Fisher Body Company Plant No. 21

The Fisher Body Company’s Plant No. 21, located in Detroit, Michigan, previously manufactured automobile bodies for General Motors. Since 1993, the building has been abandoned and is now undergoing redevelopment.

---

---

History

The Fisher Body Company originated in the late 1800s as a horse-drawn carriage shop in Norwalk, Ohio. ⁵ Lawrence Fisher and Margaret Theisen had eleven children, seven of whom were sons. These sons later formed the Fisher Body Company in Detroit.

In 1904 and 1905, the eldest brothers, Fred and Charles, relocated to Detroit, where their uncle Albert Fisher had established Standard Wagon Works. ⁶ They worked for the C.R. Wilson Company, a manufacturer of horse-drawn carriage bodies and early automobile bodies. During his tenure at C.R. Wilson, Fred constructed the body of the Cadillac Osceola.

With their knowledge of the bodybuilding industry and $1,000 in funding from a sister, ⁶ Fred and Charles established the Fisher Body Company on July 22, 1908. By 1910, Fisher became the sole supplier of closed bodies for Cadillac and Buick, and their initial $1,000 investment had grown to $4 million. Detroit businessman Louis Mendelssohn provided additional funding and became a shareholder and director. Over time, Charles and Fred persuaded their five younger brothers to join Fisher Body.

In the early years, Fisher Body had to develop new, sturdy body designs as the first-generation “horseless carriage” bodies could not withstand automobile vibrations. ⁵ Additionally, the company invested in interchangeable wooden body parts, eliminating the need for hand-fitting and requiring the creation of new precision woodworking tools. The production process involved screwing and gluing wooden frames together before installing formed steel over the frame.

To meet increasing demand, Fisher Body expanded its production capacity in 1913, enabling the production of up to 100,000 car bodies per year for clients such as Buick, Cadillac, Chalmers, Ford, Krit, and Studebaker. ⁵ A new factory was opened in 1914 in Walkerville, Ontario, and by 1916, Fisher Body could manufacture 370,000 car bodies annually for Abbot, Buick, Cadillac, Chalmers, Chandler, Chevrolet, Churchfield, Elmore, EMF, Ford, Herreshoff, Hudson, Krit, Oldsmobile, Packard, Regal, and Studebaker. ⁶

In 1919, the company constructed Plant 21, a six-story building designed by Albert Kahn, on Piquette Street in Detroit. ⁷ This plant featured reinforced concrete construction and ample windows for natural lighting and ventilation. Plant 21 was just one part of Fisher Body’s extensive network of 40 plants, spanning 3.7 million square feet across the United States and Canada.

“Body by Fisher”

In 1919, General Motors (GM) purchased 60% of Fisher Body for $27.6 million, ^{2 4 6} with an agreement that the Fisher family would maintain managerial control for ten years and that GM would exclusively purchase all car bodies from Fisher Body at a 17.5% premium. ⁶ In 1925, Fisher Body acquired Fleetwood Metal Body, a manufacturer of specialized bodies for Packard and Pierce-Arrow automobiles, as well as for wealthy individuals like Andrew Carnegie, the Rockefellers, and the Vanderbilts. This acquisition increased Fisher Body’s capacity to produce 575,000 car bodies annually.

In 1926, GM bought the remaining 40% of Fisher Body for $208 million, ⁶ fully integrating it as an autonomous business unit within the company. ^{3 4} The slogan “Body by Fisher” was created to promote Fisher Body components on GM vehicles, with a steel plate featuring the slogan attached to all GM vehicles. ^{4 6}

Fisher Body established its own network of suppliers separate from GM, acquiring a controlling interest in the National Plate Glass Company and the Ternstedt Manufacturing Company, which produced parts such as window cranks. ³ Additionally, due to the continued use of wood in car body manufacturing, Fisher controlled 160,000 acres of timber in Michigan, Louisiana, and Arkansas, along with sawmills and woodworking plants in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Washington. ⁵

In 1931, Chrysler adopted steel body production methods with interchangeable parts, benefiting four brands and reducing tooling costs using common parts across different vehicle models. ¹ Ford followed suit in 1934, while GM, due to Fisher Body’s significant holdings in wood manufacturing and the high initial costs of transitioning to stamping and die-making lines, adopted these methods last in 1937.

On August 14, 1944, the Fisher brothers resigned from GM to pursue other interests. ⁵

War Efforts

During World War I and World War II, Fisher Body’s plants were repurposed to manufacture airplanes, tanks, and associated components. ⁵ In the First World War, the Fisher Body Aeroplane Division employed 4,500 workers and produced 40 planes per day. Specifically, Plant 21 manufactured B25 bomber parts for the Air Force and served as a site for product development and engineering during World War II. ¹⁰ Additionally, during the Korean War, Alrowa Metal Products manufactured parts for rocket launchers used by Allied forces. ⁵

Innovations

Fisher Body, leveraging its extensive influence, achieved several technological milestones: ⁶

• In 1916, windows were developed to roll up and down.
• In 1930, the introduction of slanted windshields to reduce glare.
• By 1934, one piece of steel “turret top” roofs had been implemented.
• In 1936, the introduction of dual windshield wipers.
• The production of General Motors’ inaugural unibody car, the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair.
• In 1974, the pioneering of General Motors’ ignition interlock system and the first airbag.

Decline and Closure

As early as 1930, GM criticized Fisher Body’s Plant No. 21 for its inefficiency. ¹⁰ In 1955, GM relocated its limousine body assembly from the Fleetwood plant to Plant No. 21 due to the latter’s low annual production output of 1,000 car bodies. The tool-and-die operation at Plant No. 21 was then repurposed to manufacture parts for Cadillac. ⁹

On November 29, 1982, GM announced the closure of Plant No. 21, along with Plant No. 40 and 41 at 1500 East Ferry Street, citing the buildings’ inefficiency as the primary reason. ^{10 11} All car body production would be moved to “Buick City” in Flint, ¹² resulting in 900 hourly and 300 salaried employees being furloughed. ¹¹ At the time of the announcement, Plant No. 21 was 63 years old, while Plant 40, which produced tooling aids, and Plant 41, used for storage, were 54 years old. Plant No. 37 at 950 East Milwaukee Street, a die tryout facility with 140 workers, was also considered for closure but was later converted into a stamping facility. ¹¹

The last day of production for Plant No. 21 was April 1, 1984.

Post-Closure

Plant No. 21, which had been closed, was acquired by the Carter Color Coat Company (also known as Cameo Color Coat) in 1990 and repurposed for industrial painting. However, in June 1992, the company filed for bankruptcy, leading to the facility’s abandonment. ¹⁴ Subsequently, the city took ownership of the site in 2000.

A survey by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 2004 revealed significant contamination within the building and surrounding grounds, including asbestos, lead, PCBs, hazardous debris, wastes, and contaminated soils and concrete. ¹⁵ In response, the Environmental Protection Agency initiated a $1 million remediation project in 2008 involving removing contaminated equipment, flooring, and soil. Underground storage tanks were also removed in 2010.

In November 2014, Dimitri Hegemann, founder of the renowned Tresor club and record label, expressed interest in purchasing Plant No. 21 to convert into a techno music club. ⁸ However, preliminary plans, which included renovating the second floor for a techno club, a 100-bed hostel, and a European-American restaurant, were abandoned due to a lack of financing. ¹³

In March 2022, Jackson Asset Management, Lewand Development, and Hosey Development proposed a $134 million rehabilitation project for Plant No. 21, Fisher 21 Lofts. ¹⁷ This project is anticipated to be the largest Black-led development deal in the city’s history. ¹⁶ The plans involve renovating the main building along Hasting Street to create 435 apartments, 28,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, including a ground-level market, food hall, and cafe, and 15,000 square feet of co-working space. ¹⁷ Approximately 20% of the units will be reserved for individuals with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. The development will offer amenities such as a quarter-mile walking track, lounge areas, dog parks, and lounge space on the two-acre roof. Additionally, 139 enclosed parking spaces will be available on the ground floor, with an additional 646 spaces available around the building.

Preliminary work began in April, with construction beginning in late 2023. ¹⁶

Fisher Body Mergers

In 1984, Fisher Body became part of GM’s Assembly Division, which included the Fisher Guide Division, the Chevrolet-Pontiac-Canada Group, and the Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac Group. ⁶ In 1986, Fisher Body merged with Guide Lamp and later with Inland to establish the Inland Fisher Guide Division in 1990. ³ This division was renamed Delphi Interior & Lighting Systems in 1994 and then became Delphi Interior Systems, a component of Delphi Automotive Systems, formed in 1995 as GM’s parts division. ⁴ In 1999, GM separated much of its part manufacturing operations, including Delphi Automotive Systems, into a separate company, making Delphi the largest U.S.-based parts producer with sales exceeding $21 billion.

Additionally, in 1994, GM consolidated thirteen Fisher Body stamping facilities into its Metal Fabricating Division, which later merged into GM’s North American manufacturing operations in 2005. ³ Today, the Fisher Body legacy endures through Fisher & Company, formed by the merger of the Fisher Body Corporation and Fisher Dynamics. Fisher Dynamics, established in 1980, focuses on developing automotive safety components. ⁵

---

Gallery

---

Share

---

---

Sources

1. Weiss, H. Eugene. “Walter Chrysler (1875-1940).” Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan: Founding Giants of the American Automotive Industry. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2003. 135, 142-143. Print.
2. Weiss, H. Eugene. “Alfred Sloan (1875-1966).” Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan: Founding Giants of the American Automotive Industry. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2003. 88. Print.
3. Klier, Thomas H. and James M. Rubenstein. “GM Stamping.” Who Really Made Your Car?  Kalamazoo, M.I.: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2008. 88. Print.
4. Klier, Thomas H. and James M. Rubenstein. “Rise and Fall of Vertical Integration in the Midwest.” Who Really Made Your Car?  Kalamazoo, M.I.: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2008. 46-48. Print.
5. “Our Heritage.” Fisher & Company. N.p., 2009. Web. 01 July 2016.
6. Teahen, John K., Jr. “‘Body by Fisher’: A family affair.” Automotive News 14 Sept. 2008: n. pag. Print.
7. “Fisher Body Plant 21 – From Rags to Riches to Ruin to Return?” The Old Motor 1 June 2015: n. pag. Web. 1 July 2016. Article.
8. Reindi, J.C. “Famous Berlin club owner sees potential in Detroit plant.” Detroit Free Press 28 Nov. 2014: n. pag. Web.
9. “General Motor’s Corp.’s.” Detroit Free Press 12 Oct. 1982, Business: 4C. Print.
10. Ford, Andrea. “A factory’s epitaph: Good when it was built, but no more.” Detroit Free Press 5 Dec. 1982: 3A, 14A. Print.
11. Johnson, Ben. “GM closing 3 Fisher plants here.” Detroit Free Press 30 Nov. 1982: 1A, 6A. Print.
12. Lienert, Paul. “Buick City is in home stretch.” Detroit Free Press 28 Mar. 1984, Business: 8A. Print.
13. Zlatopolsky, Ashley. “Berlin techno entrepreneur has his eye on Fisher Body.” Detroit Free Press 17 Apr. 2015: C1. Print.
14. “Bankruptcies.” Detroit Free Press 22 Jun. 1992: 12F. Print.
15. “Carter Color Coat.” Brownfields 2015 n.d.: n. pag. Web. 1 July 2016. Entry.
16. Haddad, Ken. “$134M redevelopment plan announced for Detroit’s historic Fisher Body Plant.” Click on Detroit, 7 Mar. 2022.
17. “Fisher Body 21.” City of Detroit.