"The book covers the period from 1925, when Walter T. Chrysler founded the company, to 1998, when it merged with Daimler-Benz. Chrysler made a late entrance into the industry as an independent producer, but later absorbed (in whole or in part) Chalmers, Maxwell, Dodge Brothers, Hudson, Nash, and American Motors Corporation. The author traces this journey, explaining the company's leadership in automotive engineering, its styling successes and failures, its changing management, and its activities from auto racing to defense production to real estate. Throughout, the colorful personalities of its leaders - including Chrysler himself and Lee Iacocca - emerge as strong forces in the company's development, imparting a risk-taking mentality that gave the company its verve."--BOOK JACKET.