(AOL Autos) -- With car companies going in into bankruptcy and shedding famous names left and right, it's important to remember that today's automotive titans started out as tiny startups, not unlike Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. 

General Motors was almost called International Motors Co. 

Names like Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota and Porsche call to mind the huge corporate successes of the past and the great automotive families that survive today. 

But behind every brand name, there is a flesh-and-blood inventor, entrepreneur or industrialist. Most of the time, they gave their name to the companies. And that fame was often about all they ended up with. 

David Buick, who invented the overhead valve engine, founded the Buick Motor Car Co. in 1903. William C. Durant, the industrialist who would eventually found GM, took over the company in 1904, when it ran into financial trouble. 

Buick stayed on as a director, but left in 1908, never making much money from the enterprise. He reportedly died in 1929, unable to afford one of his cars. 

Durant kept the name for one of his company divisions and for the car, even though he worried that people might pronounce it "Boo-ick," according to one author. Strangely enough, the man who practically created General Motors single-handedly never really liked the idea of a 'Durant' car. 

In another example, Robert Hupp invented the Hupmobile,'a two-seat runabout, in 1908. But he sold his stock in his Hupp Motor Car Company in 1911. He turned around and founded the Hupp Corp. that same year. Investors in his first firm took him to court to make him drop the "Hupp" from his new company's name and they won. His own automotive glory quickly faded, although the Hupmobile survived until the 1940s. 
What company was almost call International Motors?
Who invented the overhead valve engine?
What company did he found?
Who took over the company?
When did this happen?
What did Buick do after that?
Did he become rich?
When did he die?
What did Durant worry about Buick?
What did he worry it would be pronounced?
Who invented the Hupmobile?
And when?
When did the Hupmobile die?
General Motors
General Motors
David Buick
David Buick
Buick Motor Car Co
Buick Motor Car Co
William C. Durant
William C. Durant
1904
1904
stayed on as a director
stayed on as a director
no
never making much money from the enterprise. 
1929
He reportedly died in 1929, unable to afford one of his cars. 
mispronounciations
Durant kept the name for one of his company divisions and for the car, even though he worried that people might pronounce it "Boo-ick," according to one author. Strangely enough, the man who practically created General Motors single-handedly never really liked the idea of a 'Durant' car. 
"Boo-ick,"
"Boo-ick,"
Robert Hupp
Robert Hupp invented the Hupmobile,
1908
Robert Hupp invented the Hupmobile,'a two-seat runabout, in 1908
1940s
His own automotive glory quickly faded, although the Hupmobile survived until the 1940s.