Chapin, Roy Dikeman, 1915-

Papers of Roy D. Chapin, Jr., chairman of the board of American Motors Corporation.

Roy D. Chapin, Jr., the son of one of the founders of the Hudson Motor Car Company, was born September 21, 1915. After graduation from Yale in 1937, he joined the firm working as an experimental engineer. He expanded his interest in mechanics and worked in key automotive areas in production planning, accounting, manufacturing, car distribution, then in sales administration and field sales, becoming assistant sales manager in 1952.

In 1954, when Hudson and Nash-Kelvinator merged to form the American Motors Corporation, Chapin became assistant treasurer. He became treasurer in 1955 and was elected vice president 1956. That same year he was named executive vice president. In 1960, he was elected executive vice president - international operations. He was elevated to executive vice president and general manager of the automotive division in September 1966. In 1967, he was named chairman and chief executive officer. He served in this capacity until 1977. He remained a member of the board of directors until 1987 when Chrysler acquired the company.

Under his leadership, American Motors prospered, mainly because of its international operation and the success of its compact cars during the period of rising oil prices. In 1970, Chapin was instrumental in purchasing for American Motors the Jeep Corp. from Kaiser Industries. Jeep sales were highly profitable for the company and served to resurrect the market for sports utility vehicles.

Chapin died August 5, 2001.