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  • Contact

Gar Wood Factory
​1930-1947

Gar wood factory

The Gar Wood factory is no longer standing.  Wood obtained the land from C. Harold Wills who was the chief engineer for Henry Ford and contributed greatly to many Ford vehicles including helping design the Model "T".  Wills started his own car company in 1921 and built the factory in Marysville.
Address:  305 and 502 River Road, Marysville, MI 48079
Artifacts of Gar Wood exist at 4 local locations:
Marine City Pride and Heritage Museum
Address:  405 S. Main St., Marine City, MI 48039
Phone:  (810) 765-5446
Website:  www.marinecitymuseum.com/
Algonac Clay Historical Museum
Address:  1240 St. Clair River Drive, Algonac, MI 48001
Phone:  (810) 794-9015
Website:  www.achistory.com/ach1/index.php
Algonac Maritime Musuem
Address:  1117 St. Clair River Drive, Algonac, MI 48001
Phone:  (810) 794-9015
Website:  www.achistory.com/ach1/index.php
Packard Proving Grounds
Address:  49965 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, MI 48317
Phone:  (586) 739-4800
Website:  packardprovinggrounds.org/

the story

Gar Wood was an inventor, entrepreneur, motor boat builder, and boat racer who held numerous world speedboat records in the U.S. and abroad.  At one point he held more patents than any other living American.
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Photo Courtesy of the Detroit Public Library
His boat racing wins were truly astounding winning the Gold Cup from 1917 to 1921.  He won the Harmsworth Trophy in 1920, 1921, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932.  Gar also set world water speed records in 1920, 1921, 1928, 1931, and 1932.
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Photo Courtesy of The Detroit Public Library
Wood made the money to pursue boat building because of his Detroit business.  He patented the dump mechanism still used in dump trucks today...
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He never had plans to become a boat builder but did so in his plants in Detroit, Algonac, and here in Marysville...
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Among his other endeavors, there were Gar Wood buses produced in his Detroit factory inspired by the Stout Scarab...
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Photos Courtesy of The Detroit Public Library
Boats were made at the Marysville factory until 1947 and are still very sought after today.  Gar Wood's impact on the marine, automobile, and racing industries is still apparent today.

references

  • Wills Ste. Claire Museum
  • Detroit Public Library
  • Library of Congress
  • Motor Boating-1925-1940
  • Packard Proving Grounds
  • Marine City Pride and Heritage Museum
  • Algonac Maritime Museum
  • Stahl's Musuem
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