1915: James A. Allison founded the Speedway Team Company, the business that would eventually evolve into Allison Transmission, to support his Indianapolis 500 racing activities. Since the beginning, quality and workmanship have been the foundation of the company's business philosophy. The following quote from James Allison, which exemplifies Allison’s brand promise, hung on a sign in his shop: "Whatever leaves this shop over my name must be of the finest work possible."
1917: One day after World War I is declared, James A. Allison instructs his Speedway Team Company to cease all activities associated with racing and cancels the Indianapolis 500. The Speedway Team Company supports the U.S. war effort by developing high-speed crawler-type tractors for hauling artillery and battlefield equipment, aircraft engines, tank components, tank tracks, production superchargers and reduction gearboxes.
1920: The Speedway Team Company changes its name to the Allison Engineering Company to align with the company’s evolution beyond racing and the Speedway. Allison is recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Aircraft Production for its Liberty aircraft engines, firmly establishing its reputation for quality. Soon after the end of World War I, Allison Engineering produces precision reduction-gear assemblies for the nation’s Liberty aircraft engines, as well as V-drive marine gears, four-cylinder generator sets and 12-cylinder marine engines.
1928: Following James Allison’s death, Allison Engineering Company is sold to General Motors under the stipulation that Allison headquarters remain in Indianapolis for at least 10 years. To this day, Allison Transmission's headquarters and primary manufacturing base remain in Indianapolis.
1937: Allison Engineering Company’s V1710 12-cylinder liquid-cooled aircraft engine passes its 150-hour acceptance trials at Wright Field, making it the first 1,000 horsepower American engine to accomplish this task. The V1710 goes on to power many of the U.S. Army Air Corps’ most famous fighters.