Flint in Genesee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Albert Champion
The Name Behind the Spark Plug
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021
1. Albert Champion Marker
Inscription.
Albert Champion. The Name Behind the Spark Plug. The Frenchman first came to the United States in 1904 as an international champion bicycle racer, and became involved with automobiles. In Boston in 1905, Albert Champion partnered with early Buick dealer Frank Stranahan in founding the Albert Champion Company to manufacture porcelain spark plugs. In 1908, Champion was persuaded by Billy Durant to move to Flint to start a new company to make spark plugs, the Champion Ignition Company, which was later renamed AC Spark Plug, using his initials. As automotive companies were gathered within General Motors, AC Spark Plug's production soared. After Champion died in 1927, General Motors continued making spark plugs in Flint until the last production in 2006., You Auto Know , Both Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart used AC spark plugs in their aircraft when crossing the Atlantic.
The Frenchman first came to the United States in 1904 as an international champion bicycle racer, and became involved with automobiles. In Boston in 1905, Albert Champion partnered with early Buick dealer Frank Stranahan in founding the Albert Champion Company to manufacture porcelain spark plugs. In 1908, Champion was persuaded by Billy Durant to move to Flint to start a new company to make spark plugs, the Champion Ignition Company, which was later renamed AC Spark Plug, using his initials. As automotive companies were gathered within General Motors, AC Spark Plug's production soared. After Champion died in 1927, General Motors continued making spark plugs in Flint until the last production in 2006.
You Auto Know
Both Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart used AC spark plugs in their aircraft when crossing the Atlantic.
Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
Location. 43° 0.995′ N, 83° 41.46′ W. Marker is in Flint, Michigan, in Genesee County. Marker is at the intersection of Saginaw Street and East Kearsley Street, on the right when traveling
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north on Saginaw Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 116 E Kearsley St, Flint MI 48502, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Inset photo (Top center) Albert Champion, about 1925.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
