Rockne

The Rockne was an American automobile brand produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, from 1932 to 1933.

The brand was named for University of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne and the automobiles were produced in Detroit, Michigan.

Knute had for some time been appearing at Dealer gatherings to give the same sort of pep talk he gave his teams at Notre Dame.

He was offered a high-visibility job by Studebaker president Albert Erskine, and signed a contract to be their Manager of Sales Promotions in February of 1931, perhaps planning to retire from coaching football.

Vail stopped in South Bend and demonstrated the car to Albert Erskine, at that time president of the Studebaker Corporation.

Erskine bought the design that day and both Vail and Cole would be brought into the Studebaker organization where they enjoyed long illustrious careers.

[2] On March 31, 1931, 12 days after signing on as Manager of Sales Promotions, Knute Rockne was killed in an airplane crash.