Keller (automobile)

In late 1946/early 1947 a coup was undertaken by the Bobbi-Kar management team and George D. Keller, a former Sales VP for Studebaker Corporation.

Keller was unsure about Liefeld's design, and demanded that friends of his, qualified engineers from Chrysler, Packard and Studebaker, should look over every aspect of the prototypes.

In addition, since the Bobbi-Kar, and hence the Keller, had been deliberately designed to use as many off-the-shelf parts as possible, it made good sense to have a Detroit office in direct contact with the suppliers, most of whom were clustered around the Big Three.

According to Liefeld, in the aftermath of the unfavorable publicity that swirled around the Tucker, Davis and Playboy stock schemes, the SEC kept a close watch on Keller Motors.

The actual design of the car was changed very little over the years except that the rear-engine roadster was dropped in favor of a conventional convertible to go along with the station wagon that better used proprietary parts.

Unlike Preston Tucker who constantly publicly slammed the safety and quality of the Big Three offerings, Keller maintained a warm and positive relationship with fellow automakers.

The real problem, and the principal cause of delay, was the need for some $5 million to pay for production tooling and initial supply of parts.

In typically-guarded stock prospectus language, the firm indicated that while it had made substantial progress in development, it did not "represent or infer that it has solved the principal problems of the business in which it intends to engage."

"[1][2] A further disclaimer warned the unwary that "the Keller Motors Corporation does not represent or infer that it will attain commercial production of automobiles (but will put forth its best efforts to do so) or realize collection on said notes as the future is unknown."

Throughout the prospectus, as on every dealer franchise agreement and application form, it was stated very clearly that no money would be refunded should the corporation's efforts fail and no cars be sold.

They argued that the population shift towards the suburbs would guarantee an expanding market for station wagons, a true enough assumption as it turned out.

Keller did admit, however, that such a plan was ambitious, and since low-price competitors (notably Plymouth and Dodge) had already introduced all-steel wagons, this might constitute real competition which "could adversely affect the company's position.

"[1][2] Actually, building the Keller bodies of wood (mountain ash sourced in Alabama) solved a number of problems.

[7] After Keller's death, the company explored some international ventures, primarily in Belgium, and attempted to market a successor Delmar-Keller Car in San Diego, California.

A Keller Super Chief Wagon was displayed at the 1950 Brussels Auto Show as part of an effort to expand international interest.