Chrysler Corporation, founded on June 6, 1925, has a history as rich and colorful as that of its founder, Walter P. Chrysler -- a man so intrigued with automotive technology that he bought, disassembled and reassembled an automobile before he learned to drive.

Walter Chrysler was born in Wamego, Kansas, on April 20, 1875. He began an ambitious career in the railroad industry as a machinist's apprentice when he was 17. Chrysler earned his master mechanic's papers in 1899 and nine years later, at the age of 33, became the youngest man ever to hold the post of superintendent of Motive Power for the Chicago Great Western Railway.

When he joined the American Locomotive Company as manager of its Pittsburgh Works in 1910, his curiosity with the infant automobile industry led him to buy his first automobile, a Locomobile Phaeton.

Two years later, Chrysler turned his fascination for automobiles into a career by joining the Buick Motor Car company in Flint, Michigan, as works manager. Buick became General Motors' first automotive division when GM incorporated in 1916. A year later, Walter Chrysler was named the division's President and General Manager.

In 1919, in addition to his responsibilities at Buick, Chrysler became General Motors' first Vice President in charge of manufacturing. Financially independent at age 45, he retired from General Motors in 1920. But, within a year he was wooed out of retirement to become Executive Vice President of Willys-Overland which was in financial trouble. He was later hired to aid the ailing Maxwell Motor Car Company, Inc.

He was named Chairman of Maxwell Motor Car's Reorganization and Management Committee and revitalized the company with the development of the Chrysler Six -- America's first medium-priced, high-styled automobile. By January 1924, Maxwell Motor Car had set an industry sales record when sales of the Chrysler Six reached 32,000 units.

Chrysler Corporation was incorporated in Delaware on June 6, 1925, as a successor to the Maxwell Motor Car. Walter Chrysler became Chairman of the Board and President. In 1925, the company introduced the Chrysler Four, Series 58 with a top speed of 58 mph. More than one million people visited showrooms in the first four days the corporation displayed the new automotive wonder. By the fall of 1925, more than 3,800 dealers were selling Chrysler cars and, by 1926, the corporation had risen from 57th to fifth place in industry sales.

Chrysler had expanded its operations to Canada as well. The Maxwell-Chrysler Company of Canada began in 1924 in Windsor, Ontario. The company incorporated as Chrysler Corporation of Canada, Ltd. in 1925. Windsor, an industrial city across the river from Detroit, quickly became Canada's largest automotive manufacturing center.

In 1928, the De Soto and the first Plymouth -- priced from $670 to $725 to appeal to consumers with average incomes -- went into production in the United States. That same year, Chrysler bought Dodge Brothers, Inc., automotive builders with a solid reputation for making vehicles with rugged dependability. The Dodge Brothers became famous for building the first car to drive into and out of the Grand Canyon.

By 1929, Chrysler had grown to become one of the Big Three leading automotive manufacturers. The company endured the Great Depression of the '30s through cost-cutting measures but never cut back on research and development. That decision paid off in 1933 when Chrysler became the only automotive company whose sales surpassed the record 1929 sales year.

Chrysler's commitment to R & D in the 1 930s resulted in several Chrysler engineering innovations including the patented "Floating Power," an engine mounting system which successfully isolated engine vibration away from the passengers and resulted in a smoother ride.

In 1934, Chrysler introduced the Chrysler Airflow and De Soto Airflow vehicles, radically styled for their time with the industry's first one-piece curved glass windshield. Engineered for a smooth ride, the Airflow was equipped with Chrysler's first Automatic Overdrive Transmission.

Chrysler continued to expand its operations by establishing Chrysler de Mexico in 1938 as an importer and distributor of Chrysler products. Subsequently, the company became an assembler and later a manufacturer of power trains. Chrysler de Mexico was controlled by Mexican capital until 1971 when Chrysler acquired majority ownership.

Today, Chrysler de Mexico operates nine facilities in Mexico, including two vehicle assembly plants. Walter Chrysler led the corporation through the early years of innovation and North American expansion until he resigned the presidency on July 22, 1935. He remained Chairman of the Board until his death on August 18, 1940. He is remembered as an inspired entrepreneur and an early patriarch of America's automotive industry.

More interesting information on Chrysler over the years:

• THE WAR YEARS
• THE SPACE AGE
• THE TROUBLED YEARS
• RECOVER & GROWTH
• THE NEW CHRYSLER ACQUISITIONS & EXPANSIONS
• PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE 80's & INTO THE FUTURE