Marmon-Herrington

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1951 Marmon-Herrington transit vehicles ad

Marmon-Herrington was a builder of trucks, buses, and trolleybuses, best known for its all-wheel-drive conversions to other truck maker's units, specially to Ford ones.

The company was founded in 1931 by Walter C. Marmon and Arthur W. Herrington and focused on building all wheel drive trucks. Marmon-Herrington got off to a successful start by procuring contracts for military aircraft refueling trucks, 4x4 chassis for towing light weaponery, commercial aircraft refueling trucks, and an order from the Iraqi Pipeline Company for what were the largest trucks ever built at the time. In addition to large commercial and military vehicles, company leaders recognized a growing market for moderately priced all-wheel drive vehicles

Marmon-Herrington also made multi-stop delivery vans, and passenger vehicles. Their foray into transit buses and coaches began in 1950 when it acquired Ford's transit coaches business, while their trolleybses were successful in the fleets of several North-American cities.

In the 1960s, the Pritzker family bought the company and soon the focus on full vehicle manufacturing vanished, the truck designs being sold to a new company that traded under the Marmon brand; but the company continues today as a converter of commercial trucks to AWD vehicles.

Based initially in Indianapolis, Indiana with a plant in Windsor, Ontario, MH is now based in Louisville, Kentucky. Marmon-Herrington continues to build installation kits for All-Wheel-Drive, but has also become a large front drive axle and transfer case manufacturer to the medium and heavy duty truck market. Marmon-Herrington axles can still be found on even the newest military vehicles and commercial trucks.

Canada