Auto Luminaries to be Inducted

The Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, MI, announces seven inductees into its class of 2002, including Fiat SpA founder Giovanni Agnelli, National Automobile Dealers Assn. President Frank McCarthy (both deceased) and NASCAR driver Richard Petty.

Other inductees include auto designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who founded auto design house ItalDesign SpA in 1967 and has designed some 80 mass-produced vehicles; Andre Michelin and Edouard Michelin (both deceased), who began the Michelin Co. in 1889 and developed the detachable air-filled rubber tire mounted on a metal wheel rim, and Chrysler Corp. engineer Owen Skelton (deceased), who, along with Carl Breer and Fred Zeder, formed what company insiders referred to as the “Three Musketeers.”

Skelton is credited with developing 4-wheel hydraulic brakes, all-steel body construction and the “floating power” engine mount system. Induction is set for Oct. 15 in Dearborn.