Leata

Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

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Stinebaugh Manufacturing Inc.Company type| Public company

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Industry| Automotive
Founded| Post Falls, Idaho, United States (1975 (1975))
Founder| Donald E. Stinebaugh
Defunct| 1977; 48 years ago (1977)
Headquarters|

Post Falls, Idaho

United States

Area served

| United States

Key people

| Donald E. Stinebaugh, Leonard D. "Sonny" Stinebaugh (1946-2001)
Products| Microcars, Luxury cars

The Leata was an automobile manufactured by Stinebaugh Manufacturing Inc, founded by Donald E. Stinebaugh (1916-1992) with his son Leonard D. "Sonny" Stinebaugh (1946-2001) in Post Falls, Idaho.

The first model produced in 1975 was a boxy 2-door sedan powered by a 4-cylinder Continental engine, producing 50 bhp and giving the car a top speed of 112 kilometres per hour (70 mph), as well as fuel economy of 39-55 miles per gallon.[1] The car sold for $2895, and Stinebaugh claimed to have manufactured 23 of the cars & 4 flat bed truck by the end of March 1975. The company employed 15 workers, and Stinebaugh claimed that he was looking to produce between 1,000 and 1,500 cars a year.[1]

In 1977, a more modern-looking vehicle was launched, called the Cabalero. Stinebaugh named the car after his wife Hilda (Erickson) Stinebaugh, giving the car her nickname, Leata -- a misunderstanding of litt, Norwegian for "little."

The Cabalero was powered by a 4-cylinder General Motors LY-5 engine,[1] and featured power windows, power seat and cruise control -- as well as baroque styling with custom fibreglass body panels, round headlights in square bezels, a rectangular "classic" grille, and heavily styled mudguards; Two models were made - a pickup or hatchback.[2]

Just 97 Leatas were made before the company closed down in late 1977.[3]

## References

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1. ^ a b c Georgano, Nick (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London, England: Stationery Office. p. 886\. ISBN 0117023191.
2. ^ McAleer, Brendan (2016-03-22). "I Drove the Worst Car in America". The Drive.
3. ^ Matthews, Nigel. "The Leata was a Chevette disguised as a luxury car". driving.ca. Retrieved 23 September 2020.