In the late 1930s two drunks got into an argument over what kind of car would be superior. One advocated a small, cheap, simple vehicle that would be ideal for the public which was still suffering the effects of the Great Depression. The other argued that a mid-size versatile platform would be the better choice as it would open up options for work, family transport, etc. Eventually the two men, Gordon Petoskey and Alistair Ventnor agreed that both designs would serve their own purposes and decided to work together on starting a car company. Since Petoskey won the coin toss, they agreed to name the company after him. Setting up an office in the small rural town of Hell, Michigan. The two men got to work.
The first model developed was the Ace.
Available in both two door and four door configurations, the Ace proved a dirt cheap yet practical automobile for the public. Given the poverty level caused by the Great Depression, this car proved an excellent buy due to the low cost, decent reliability, and excellent fuel efficiency. The rear mounted low power 32 cubic inch four cylinder produced a mere 20.8 horsepower, but the light weight of the car and low fuel consumption helped shore up those shortcomings.
The second model developed was the Model B.
Much larger than the Ace, the Model B featured a larger, more powerful drivetrain, more space, and a more versatile platform.
The vast options available for the Model B proved very popular with the public. The adaptability of the chassis also helped keep down manufacturing costs. The Model B was driven by a 261 cubic inch inline six, an engine that would become legendary over the decades.
Seeing that these cars were going to prove a hit, efforts were directed towards developing a high end luxury car. Since the company was named after Gordon Petoskey, it was decided to name this sub brand after Alistair Ventnor. This new vehicle was painstakingly hand crafted from the ground up. Upon unveiling to the public, the Ventnor Premium proved to be a major success.
This beautiful car proved to be a major success as a luxury car. Many famous names have owned a Ventnor Premium, including Dominic Bambino, the infamous gangster. His car can be seen on display in the Petoskey Museum with the 1185 bullet holes riddled across the vehicle after Bambino’s career was cut short by an ambush of 26 police officers in 1948. The 571 V-12 under the hood proved to be one of the most powerful engines available at the time. This made the car difficult to drive due to the ease of which the engine could spin the wheels. Despite that shortcoming, the Ventnor Premium was a hot item.
Sadly production of all three variants was cut short after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into WW-II. With the crisis at hand, Petoskey Motors began shifting factory production towards building vehicles for the military.
Coming soon: Wartime production, the vehicles Petoskey built to send to the front.