Taking on a weighty subject: picking the best-ever auto exec

Edward E. Whitacre Jr. has retained himself as the chair and chief executive officer of General Motors Co. For the past several months, Whitacre, an original appointment of President Obama’s automotive task force, has governed as an “interim” executive. He was formerly CEO of AT&T.

This move completes a clearance of auto-based CEO’s in Detroit’s Big Three. Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Co., was formerly a top executive at Boeing Co. As the other member of the Detroit Three, Sergio Marchionne has CEO duties along with heading Fiat. Before joining Fiat, he was involved in several non-automotive manufacturing companies.

With these three relatively new heads of Detroit’s carmakers, the question arises: Who was the best auto executive ever, domestic or foreign?

There are numerous qualified leaders. Here are a few candidates, listed in no particular order, all leading to my non-arguable choice:

CHARLES W. NASH. Coming from Buick, he became president of GM in 1908. Later he formed his own firm, Nash Motors. In addition, he was also president of luxury auto company, LaFayette.

KARL BENZ. Regarded as inventor of the gas-powered automobile. He founded Benz Co., which preceded Mercedes-Benz, Daimler-Benz and DaimlerChrysler. Benz patented all the processes that made the internal-combustion engine feasible for use in motor cars.

JAMES WARD PACKARD. Started his automotive career in 1899 with a one-cylinder engine with automatic ignition advance. He sold the company in 1901; the company retained the Packard name.

RANSOM E. OLDS. Designed the immortal single-cylinder, tiller-steered Curved Dash Oldsmobile, which first appeared in 1901. By 1904, production of the “Merry Oldsmobile” reached 5,000 units.

JOHN NORTH WILLYS. Bought out the Overland Co. in 1908. Who will ever forget the success of the Willys Jeep in World War II?

LOUIS RENAULT. Started in autos in 1898. Perhaps best known in World War I when Renault taxis became known as “Taxis de la Marne.” He was also a leader in the development of tanks.

HENRY FORD. Best known as the inventor of the automobile assembly line and paying employees the unheard of sum of $5 a day. Also the father of the Model T, the country’s all-time sales leader.

GEORGE ROMNEY. As head of the Nash company, he acquired the Hudson firm and formed American Motors. His best known product: the Rambler.

STANLEY BROTHERS. Produced their first car in 1898, known as the Stanley Steamer. Steam was generated in a vertical fire-tube boiler, mounted beneath the seat.

LEE IACOCCA. Rescued Chrysler from bankruptcy in the 1980s with a government loan, which was repaid ahead of time. He takes credit for creating the Chrysler Minivan. Earlier he was recognized for bringing out the first Mustang for Ford Motor Co.

ALFRED P. SLOAN JR. Came from DuPont to stabilize GM’s finances. He perfected a committee-type leadership, copied by countless organizations. Along with Billy Durant, built General Motors on a firm foundation and a strong dealer body.

PRESTON THOMAS TUCKER. Was a clever, passionate executive with a strong automotive background who dared to dream the impossible dream: build an auto plant in direct competition with Detroit. Only a few dozen cars were assembled, due to financial problems.

DODGE BROTHERS. John and Horace Dodge built their first cars in 1914. It was the first mass-produced U.S. auto with an all-steel body. The company was the second largest producer in 1920 (Ford was the leader).

ERRETT LOBBAN CORD. Founded the Cord Corp. in 1929, which controlled the Auburn Co. The company built Auburns and Cords, but did not survive the Great Depression.

SERGIO PININFARINA. In 1956 changed the business from handmade units for a few wealthy people to high-volume, understated products.

WILLIAM C. “BILLY” DURANT. Founder of General Motors; made major acquisitions including Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet. Later, Alfred P. Sloan Jr. said of Durant, “Constantly amazed by his doing.”

OPEL BROTHERS. After father Adam Opel died in 1895, the three sons took the company from a producer of sewing machines and bicycles to a mass producer of fine motor cars.

HENRY J. KAISER. Along with his partner Joseph Frazer, surprised everyone by leading all independent makers in production in 1947, building 144,500 cars. The Henry J had done the impossible.

W.O. BENTLEY. Founded Bentley Motors in 1920. Designed a high-tech four-cylinder engine and sturdy chassis, the Bentley 3-litre. It was the first to use four valves per cylinder and dual spark plugs.

HENRY ROYCE. In 1904 built a two-cylinder car. He combined with Hon. C.S. Rolls and created a motor car legend.

The best automotive executive ever? My vote: a tie between Henry Ford and Billy Durant. You get a vote, too. But it doesn’t count.

George G. Spaulding is a retired General Motors executive and distinguished executive-in-residence emeritus at the School of Business at the College of Charleston. He can be reached at 2 Wharfside St. 2A Charleston, S.C., 29401.