Indianapolis Foundry

Indianapolis Foundry
Operated	1890–2005
Location	Indianapolis, Indiana
Coordinates	39°45′05″N86°13′05″W / 39.7514°N 86.2181°W / 39.7514; -86.2181
Industry	Automotive
Products	Engine blocks
Employees	881 (2005) [1]
Area	52 acres (0.21 km2)
Address	1100 South Tibbs Ave
Owner(s)	American Foundry Co. (1890–1946) [1] Chrysler (1946–2005)
Defunct	2005;20 years ago (2005)

Indianapolis Foundry was a Chrysler automobile foundry located at 1100 S. Tibbs Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana. The factory opened in 1890 as the "American Foundry Company" and was purchased in 1946 by Chrysler and operated as a subsidiary. ^{[1] [2]} It became part of Chrysler property in 1946 and expanded in 1964, 1978, 1988, and went through a major remodel from 1996 through 2000. The plant covered 52 acres (210,000 m²) on Indianapolis' west side. ^[1]

Brief timeline

• 1890s: American Foundry opens in Indianapolis.
• 1910-1920: The foundry makes engine blocks and heads for Apperson, Chalmers, Marmon, Maxwell, Stutz autos, Caterpillar tractors, Stutz fire trucks. ^[2]
• 1925: Maxwell reorganizes as Chrysler Corporation, turns to American Foundry as an engine block supplier.
• 1946: Chrysler buys American Foundry.
• 1950: New plant opens at 1100 S. Tibbs Ave.
• 1964: Expansion makes Tibbs foundry Central Indiana's largest.
• 1996: Foundry launches $225 million upgrade.
• 2003: DaimlerChrysler says Indianapolis foundry will close within four years.
• 2005: Foundry closes on September 30, idling final 900 employees.

Foundry/ Brazil S.A. The 3.3/3.8L blocks were outsourced to Bruhl Foundry/ Germany. Current products:

• Cast iron blocks
  • 3.3/3.8 L V6
  • 3.7 L V6
  • 4.7 L V8

Notes

1. Indianapolis foundry to close Sept. 30, eliminating 881 jobs on WTHR.com, 2005 (archived, 15 Jan 2015)
2. Fischer, Jessica (2021-02-05). "Chrysler Corporation". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved 2025-04-22.