Leata

Leata was an American automobile brand produced by Stinebaugh Manufacturing Inc. in Post Falls, Idaho. The company was founded by Donald E. Stinebaugh and his son, Leonard D. "Sonny" Stinebaugh, and attempted to establish a small-volume vehicle business during the 1970s. Its first automobile, introduced in 1975, was a boxy two-door sedan with a four-cylinder Continental engine. The car produced approximately 50 horsepower, reached a claimed top speed of 70 miles per hour, and was reported to deliver fuel economy of roughly 39 to 55 miles per gallon. Its emphasis on economy and compact dimensions reflected the market environment of the period, when fuel consumption had become an important consideration for American buyers. The car was named Leata after Hilda Stinebaugh, Donald Stinebaugh's wife. Leata was her nickname; the company reportedly associated the name with a Norwegian word meaning "little," although that interpretation was based on a misunderstanding. The first model was offered at a reported price of $2,895. By the end of March 1975, Stinebaugh said that the company had manufactured 23 cars and four flatbed trucks. The operation employed approximately 15 people, and the founder expressed an ambition to increase production to between 1,000 and 1,500 vehicles per year. Those plans were far larger than the company's eventual output. In 1977, Stinebaugh Manufacturing introduced a substantially restyled vehicle called the Cabalero. It used a four-cylinder General Motors LY-5 engine and included equipment such as power windows, a power-adjustable seat, and cruise control. The vehicle's appearance was deliberately ornate and retro-influenced, combining custom fiberglass body panels with round headlights set into square surrounds, a rectangular classic-style grille, and strongly sculpted mudguards. It was offered in two body configurations: a pickup and a hatchback. Leata remained a very small specialist operation rather than becoming a mass-market automaker. Only 97 Leata vehicles were produced before Stinebaugh Manufacturing closed in late 1977. The brand is therefore remembered primarily as an unusual example of an independent American low-volume automobile venture, rather than as a continuing commercial marque. Its surviving vehicles are significant mainly for their rarity, distinctive styling, and connection to the experimental small-car manufacturing culture of 1970s America.

Leata originated with Stinebaugh Manufacturing Inc., an automobile venture established in Post Falls, Idaho, by Donald E. Stinebaugh and his son Leonard D. "Sonny" Stinebaugh. The business pursued the difficult goal of building automobiles in very small volumes outside the established American manufacturing centers. Its first production model appeared in 1975 as a boxy two-door sedan. The vehicle used a four-cylinder Continental engine rated at about 50 horsepower, with a reported top speed of 70 miles per hour and fuel economy ranging from approximately 39 to 55 miles per gallon. The name Leata came from Hilda Stinebaugh, the wife of Donald Stinebaugh. Leata was her nickname. The name was also connected by the company with a Norwegian term understood to mean "little," although the association resulted from a linguistic misunderstanding. The car was marketed as an economical compact vehicle and reportedly carried a price of $2,895. In an account of the company's early activity, Donald Stinebaugh stated that 23 cars and four flatbed trucks had been produced by the end of March 1975. The company employed about 15 workers and hoped eventually to manufacture between 1,000 and 1,500 cars annually. Those expansion plans did not materialize. In 1977, the company attempted to broaden and modernize its range with the Cabalero. The new vehicle was powered by a four-cylinder General Motors LY-5 engine and offered features including power windows, a power seat, and cruise control. Its construction and styling emphasized individuality: custom fiberglass body panels, circular headlights housed in square bezels, a rectangular grille intended to evoke classic cars, and pronounced mudguards gave it an ornate, highly distinctive appearance. Customers could choose between pickup and hatchback forms. The Cabalero represented a shift from the plain, economy-oriented appearance of the original sedan toward a more flamboyant and customized product. Nevertheless, the company remained a low-volume manufacturer. Only 97 Leatas were completed before Stinebaugh Manufacturing ceased operations in late 1977. The brand consequently had a brief production life and never developed into a broad commercial automobile line. Today, Leata is chiefly notable as a rare independent American marque and for the unusual styling and construction of its surviving vehicles.

• 1977

  Cabalero introduced

  [1]Leataen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced the Cabalero, a more elaborately styled vehicle offered in pickup and hatchback configurations.

• 1977

  Production ends

  [1]Leataen.wikipedia.org

  Stinebaugh Manufacturing closed in late 1977 after producing 97 Leatas.

• 1975

  First Leata model enters production

  [1]Leataen.wikipedia.org

  Stinebaugh Manufacturing produced the first Leata, a two-door sedan with a four-cylinder Continental engine, approximately 50 horsepower, and an emphasis on fuel economy.

• 1975

  Early production figures reported

  [1]Leataen.wikipedia.org

  By the end of March, the company reported building 23 Leata cars and four flatbed trucks and employed approximately 15 workers.

A small-scale American automobile venture focused on compact, fuel-efficient vehicles, later combined with highly customized retro styling and relatively well-equipped interiors.

• Compact automobile · 1975

  Leata

  The original Leata was a boxy two-door sedan introduced in 1975. It used a four-cylinder Continental engine producing about 50 horsepower and was reported to have a top speed of 70 miles per hour. Its principal appeal was economical operation, with claimed fuel economy of approximately 39 to 55 miles per gallon. The car was sold as a small, independently built American vehicle and reportedly cost $2,895 at introduction.

• Pickup and hatchback automobile · 1977

  Cabalero

  Introduced in 1977, the Cabalero was a more elaborate successor-style model. It used a four-cylinder General Motors LY-5 engine and included power windows, a power seat, and cruise control. Custom fiberglass body panels, square headlight surrounds, a rectangular classic-style grille, and heavily shaped mudguards created a distinctive baroque appearance. The model was available as either a pickup or a hatchback.

• 1977

  Expansion of the range through the CabaleroProduct launch

  Background

  After introducing the economy-focused Leata sedan, Stinebaugh Manufacturing sought to broaden its offering with a newer-looking and more highly equipped vehicle.

  Action taken

  The company launched the Cabalero in pickup and hatchback forms, using a General Motors four-cylinder engine and adding power-operated comfort features.

  Aftermath

  The new model did not lead to sustained production. The company closed later in 1977, with total Leata production reported at 97 vehicles.

  Source

1. 1Leataen.wikipedia.org