Founded in 1915 in Akron, Ohio by William Francis O'Neil, along with his business partners, formed The General Tire & Rubber Company, an American manufacturer of tires for motor vehicles. O'Neil had a Firestone franchise in Kansas City but became dissatisfied with Firestone as it began reducing the territories of its earlier franchises. He decided to be a competitor. During the depression, as competitors failed, The General Tire & Rubber Company bought out Yale Tire and Rubber, and India Tire and Rubber. By 1933, their market share increased to 2.7%, a relatively large number considering the company's limited production. Commonly referred to as simply General Tire, in 1987, Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, sold its tire division to Germany's Continental AG.
Note: Rather than "run into" General Motors' legal departments for the use of a 1949 Oldsmobile, art departments would typically make alterations to a car by hand-painting or airbrushing over the most recognizable features of a model to disguise it. It is still done today, only with computer software programs. Most notable is the removal of the globe hood emblem and the Oldsmobile lettering. The grille is also modified with accessories not offered by Olds. They have removed the distinctive chrome pieces below the headlights as well.
