Goodspeed (United States) - AllCarIndex

Goodspeed was an American automobile brand founded in 1922 by Leland F. Goodspeed in Chicago, Illinois. Goodspeed, who had previously served as vice-president of the Barley Motor Car Company, sought to create a high-end vehicle that bore his name. He joined Commonwealth Motors shortly before it merged with the Markin Auto Body Corporation, which was based in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Goodspeed automobiles were characterized by their elegant design and quality craftsmanship. The flagship model, the Goodspeed phaeton, featured a distinctive appearance with a 124-inch wheelbase, a six-cylinder engine developed in-house, and unique design elements such as individual step plates and cycle-type bumpers. Priced at $5,400, the Goodspeed phaeton garnered significant attention at the New York Automobile Show in January 1922 and later at the Chicago Automobile Show.

Despite the initial success and interest in the Goodspeed brand, the merger of Commonwealth Motors and Markin Auto Body Corporation eventually led to the formation of Checker Motors Corporation, known for producing the Checker cab. Following this transition, Leland Goodspeed shifted his focus to become the chief engineer for Checker, ultimately abandoning his aspirations of continuing as an automobile manufacturer.