Cars A to Z   |   Fahrzeuge von A bis Z

ABARTH

Abarth was an Italian racing car maker founded by Carlo Abarth, of Austrian origins.

On the 1960s, Abarth was quite successful in hillclimbing and sports car racing, mainly in classes from 850cc up to 2000cc, competing with Porsche 904 and Ferrari Dino. Hans Herrmann was factory driver from 1962 until 1965, winning etc. the 500km Nürburgring.

Later, Johann Abt was promised by Carlo Abarth that he could drive a factory car for free if he'd won all races he enters - what Abt nearly did, winning in 29 of 30, plus a second.

Along with its racing cars Abarth produced high-performance exhaust pipes. Later Abarth diversified in producing various tuning kits for road vehicles, mainly for Fiat. Abarth was also associated associated in producing sports or racing cars with Porsche and Simca.

Abarth was sold to Fiat in 1971 and the racing team sold to Enzo Osella. Abarth became the racing department of Fiat, managed by famed engine designer, Aurelio Lampredi. Some models built by Fiat or its subsidiaries Lancia and Autobianchi were co-branded Abarth, the most famous being the Autobianchi A112 Abarth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abarth

AC

AC Cars Group Ltd. is a British specialist car manufacturing company and one of the oldest independent car marques in Britain. Based in Weybridge, Surrey.

In 1903 Weller Brothers in West Norwood, London, planned to produce an advanced 20hp car. This looked economically unviable so their financial backer John Portwine proposed a simpler 3 wheeled vehicle. Autocars and Acessories was founded to make this in 1904. This company became Autocarriers Ltd in 1911 using the 'AC' logo. The company moved to Thames Ditton, Surrey in 1911 and grew into a substantial car manufacturer. S F Edge, who had been behind Napier, joined the board in 1921 and in 1922 both John Weller and John Portwine left.

In 1922 the name changed again to A.C. Cars Ltd. Edge bought the company outright for £135,000 in 1927 and re-registered it as AC (Acédès) Ltd but sales, which had been falling, continued to decline. In 1930 production ceased and the company was sold to the Hurlock family who ran a successful haulage business. They wanted the factory as a warehouse but allowed the service side of AC to continue...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cars

ACMA

They also made a Vespa car, but it was a completely different vehicle from the scooter or Ape, not utilizing a single one of the scooter parts. Manufactured in France from 1958 through 1961 by a Piaggio division called ACMA, these little cars competed with Fiats, giving the Italian giant a run for its money, especially among women drivers because of its style and magical Piaggio nameplate. But only about 34,000 Vespa cars were manufactured...

In 1950, just four years from its debut, the Vespa was manufactured in Germany by Hoffman-Werke of Lintorf; the following year licensees opened in Great Britain (Douglas of Bristol) and France (ACMA of Paris); production began in Spain in 1953 at Moto Vespa of Madrid, now Piaggio España, followed immediately by Jette, outside Brussels. Plants sprang up in Bombay and Brazil; the Vespa reached the USA, and its enormous popularity drew the attention of the Reader’s Digest, which wrote a long article about it. But that magical period was only the beginning. Soon the Vespa was produced in 13 countries and marketed in 114, including Australia, South Africa (where it was known as the “Bromponie”, or moor pony), Iran and China. And it was copied: on June 9, 1957, Izvestia reported the start of production in Kirov, in the USSR, of the Viatka 150 cc, an almost perfect clone of the Vespa...

see also VESPA

ACURA

Acura is a Japanese brand name used by Honda in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong since March 1986 to market luxury automobiles and near-luxury vehicles. The brand will be expanded to the Chinese market in 2006 and the Japanese domestic market in 2008. Acura is credited with creating or being the first to tap into a market for luxury Japanese cars outside Japan. Before Acura, automobiles from Japan were primarily economical and were seen as reliable above all else.

Other Japanese luxury brands (Toyota's Lexus and Nissan's Infiniti) sprang up in North America shortly after Acura's introduction of the Legend, a V6-powered coupe and sedan, and the Integra, which was offered with a 4-cylinder engine only. Automotive journalists were impressed particularly by the Acura Legend...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura

ADLER

The Adler was a German automobile produced from 1900 to 1940. Adler is the German word for eagle.

The Adler factory produced bicycles, typewriters, and motorcycles in addition to cars. Before the World War I, the company used De Dion two- and four-cylinder engines in cars that ranged from 1032 cc to 9081 cc; beginning in 1902, they used their own engines as well. These cars, driven by Erwin Kleyer and his brother Otto (sons of the company founder, Heinrich Kleyer) and by Alfred Theves won many sporting events. 

In the 1920s, Karl Irion raced many Adlers; popular models of the period included the 2298 cc, 1550 cc, and 4700 four-cylinders and the 2580 cc six-cylinders. Many of the Standard models, built between 1927 and 1934, featured Gropius and Neuss coachwork. These had 2916 cc six-cylinder engines and 3887 cc eight-cylinder engines. 

Later in the decade the company introduced front-wheel drive Trumpf and Trumpf-Junior models, ranging from 995 cc to 164 5cc four-cylinder sv engines. These gained many successes in races, including in the Le Mans race. The 1943 cc Favorit, the 2916 cc six-cylinder Diplomat (featuring 65 hp (48 kW) at 3800 rpm, and the 1910 cc four-cylinder and 2494 cc six-cylinder

models (with Ambi-Budd and Karmann bodywork) were all rear-driven; these were built until the World War II.

After World War II a decision was made not to resume automobile construction. Motorcycle production resumed in 1949 and continued for 8 years leading to the production of the MB 250S. Increasingly, Adler focused on the manufacture of office equipment. The company associated with Triumph to form Triumph-Adler, and was taken over by Grundig in 1957, later by Olivetti.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adler_%28automobile%29

AERO

The Aero was a Czech automobile, manufactured between 1929 and 1947 by a well-known aircraft and car-body factory owned by one Dr. Vladimir Kabes.

The original model, the Aero Type 500, had a 499 cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine with water cooling. The next model, the Type 20, was a 660 cc vertical twin, which was followed by the Type 30, a 998 cc twin-cylinder version. The 1934 Aero was a front wheel drive car with a similar engine and a four-seater body. The last model, the Type 50, also front-wheel-drive, had a 1997 cc four-cylinder 50 PS (37 kW two-stroke engine. Many famous drivers won many events in Aero cars.

After the war the company made the Type 30 until 1947.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_%28automobile%29

AHLBORN

Agricultural machinery of Eduard Ahlborn AG, 1856 until today, Hildesheim, GermanyEduard Ahlborn Spezialfabrik für Molkerei und Kühlanlagen, Hildesheim, Deutschland

Eduard Ahlborn (14.09.1823-22.02.1899) gründete 1856 eine Fabrik für land- und milchwirtschaftliche Maschinen, die bis zu ihrer Verlagerung nach Sarstedt 1978 ein bedeutender Wirtschaftsfaktor in der Stadt war.

 

ALFA ROMEO

The company that became Alfa Romeo was founded as "Darracq Italiana" in 1907 by Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat from Milan, in partnership with the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. The firm initially produced Darracq cars in Naples, but after the partnership collapsed Stella and the other Italian co-investors moved production to an idle Darracq factory in the Milan suburb of Portello, and the company was renamedALFA. 

The first non-Darracq car produced by company was the 1910 24 HP (named for the 24 horsepower it produced), designed by Giuseppe Merosi. Merosi would go on to design a series of new ALFA cars with more powerful engines (40-60 HP). ALFA also ventured into motor racing, drivers Franchini and Ronzonicompeting in the 1911 Targa Florio with two 24 HP models. However, the onset of World War I halted automobile production at ALFA for three years...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo

ALLARD

The Allard Motor Company was an English car manufacturer founded in 1936 by Sydney Allard. The company, based in Putney, London until 1945 and then in Clapham, London, produced approximately 1900 cars until its closure in 1966.

Allards generally featured a large American V8 engine in a small, light British sports car body, giving a high power-to-weight ratio and foreshadowing the more famous AC Cobra - in fact, Carroll Shelby drove an Allard in the 1950s, and it was doubtless an inspiration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allard

ALLDAYS & ONIONS

Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co. Ltd, Birmingham and London, Great Britain, 1898-1918Three wheel cars with De Dion Bouton engines, four wheel car 'Alldays Traveller'.After 1918 'Enfield' cars and 'Enfield-Alldays' cars as well as 'Enfield' motorcycles.

Many thanks to Harald H. Linz -  

ALPINA

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile tuning company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany specialising in BMW cars. Alpina was founded by Burkard Bovensiepen,(b. 1936) who is still the CEO.

BMW vehicles modified by Alpina retain their entire BMW warranty. A distinctive feature of Alpina cars are their 20 spoke alloy wheels.

Most recently Alpina have produced a version of the current BMW E60 5 Series called the B5, which rivals the BMW M5. The B5 offers a different take on performance and how to get it: unlike the V10 M5, the Alpina B5 uses a supercharged V8 which produces similar horsepower but has far greater torque.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpina

ALPINE

Alpine was a French manufacturer of racing and sports cars which used rear mounted Renault engines. The company was founded by Jean Rédélé in 1952 in Dieppe. The first production model the Alpine A106 powered by a Renault 4CV engine appeared in 1956.

Over time, the Alpine company was absorbed by Renault. The last production model was the A610, and this car was discontinued in 1995.

Alpine became a world rally champion in 1973 with its most famous model, the Alpine A110 (aka "Berlinette"). An Alpine A442 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978. This was probably the last appearance of a works Alpine car in racing, at that time the merging with Renault was complete and the car was entered as a Renault-Alpine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_%28car%29

ALVIS

Alvis cars were produced by the manufacturer Alvis Car & Engineering Company Ltd of Coventry, England from 1919 to 1967. The company was also involved in aero-engines and military vehicles, the latter continuing after the car production was stopped.

The original company, TG John & Co. Ltd., was founded in 1919. Its first products were stationary engines, carburettor bodies and motorscooters. The company founder TG John was approached by Geoffrey de Freville with designs for a 4-cylinder engine. The design called for aluminium pistons and pressure lubrication, unusual for the period. Some have suggested that de Freville proposed the name Alvis as a compound of the words "aluminium" and "vis"(Latin=strong) - although it is well known that de Freville himself vigously denied this theory; it is also possible that is was named for the Norse mythological weaponsmith, Alvis, but the true origin is unknown.

The first car model, the 10/30, using de Freville's design was an instant success and set the reputation for quality and performance for which the Alvis brand became famous. The company logo of an inverted red triangle incorporating the word 'Alvis' was used from this period. In 1921, the company changed its name to become Alvis Car & Engineering Company Ltd. and moved to Holyhead Road, Coventry.

Captain GT Smith-Clarke joined from Daimler as Chief Engineer & Works Manager in 1923 and was soon joined by WM Dunn as Chief Draughtsman. This partnership lasted for 25 years and was responsible for many designs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvis_Cars

AMC

American Motors Corporation (AMC) was an American automobile company, formed in 1954 by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history, valued at $198,000,000.

American Motors was purchased by Chrysler Corporation on March 2, 1987, which discontinued the brand name but continued some of the models under the Eagle marque.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Motors

AMERICAN LA FRANCE

American LaFrance (ALF) is an emergency vehicle manufacturer, formerly based in Ladson, South Carolina. Focusing primarily on fire engines and fire trucks (ladders), although they also sell rescue vehicles and ambulances. ALF was founded in 1873 by Truckson LaFrance and his partners as the "LaFrance Manufacturing Company," selling hand powered equipment.

In 1995, the company was bought by Freightliner LLC, which is a subsidiary of Daimler-Chrysler. Freightliner continued to utilize American LaFrance's original nameplates and designations. However, most of their products are now built on Freightliner M2 or Sterling Acterra chassis. ALF has manufacturing facilities in Hamburg, NY and Casper, WY. As of 2005, they are the fifth largest manufacturer of emergency vehicles in North America.

In December 2005, it was announced that Freightliner had transferred the ownership of American LaFrance to the New York-based investment firm, Patriarch Partners, LLC. The headquarters and main plant in Ladson, South Carolina are not included in the transaction. However, Patriarch Partners will be allowed to use the plant until early 2007, when DaimlerChrysler will utilize the plant for assembly of the 2007 Dodge Sprinter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_LaFrance

AMG

Mercedes-AMG is the tuning arm of the Mercedes-Benz car company. Mercedes-Benz took a majority stake in AMG in 1999 (then called AMG-Mercedes) and has taken full ownership in 2005.

AMG or Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach was founded in 1967 as AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Production and Development, Ltd.) by former Mercedes engineers Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in a town near Stuttgart called Großaspach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMG-Mercedes

AMILCAR

The Amilcar was a French automobile manufactured from 1921 to 1939. The first offering was a small cyclecar; designed by Jules Salomon and Edmond Moyet, it bore a striking resemblance to the pre-war Le Zèbre. 

Next was the 903cc CC, which was available in two further versions; the CS was a sport version, while the C4 was a family car. The sv engine had splash lubrication, and came with a three speed gearbox. The most famous model of all was the CGS "Grand Sport" of 1924; this featured a 1074cc sv engine and four-wheel brakes. This in turn evolved into the more sporty CGSS "Grand Sport Surbaissé". 

These models were built under license in Germany (as the Pluto) and in Austria (as the Grofri) and in Italy (asAmilcar Italiana). The marque entered automobile racing in the mid-1920s with a batch of supercharged dohc 1100cc six cylinder cars that used a roller bearing crankshaft in the full racing version; these vehicles were also available with plain bearings. 

The company also offered a light touring car; called the "M-Type", it featured a sv 1200cc engine and was launched in 1928. It was followed by the M2, M3, and M4 versions. 1928 also saw the manufacture of a straight eight, which was built with an ohc 2-liter engine. This, the C8, proved unreliable, and soon disappeared. 

In the late 1930s Amilcar introduced two new models; one was the 14cv, which used a four cylinder Delahaye engine. In 1937 the company merged with Hotchkiss. The next model was the front wheel drive Amilcar Compound, quite advanced in design for its era, featuring a monocoque frame made of a light alloy and independent suspension all around. For an engine it had an ohv four-cylinder of 1185cc. Production of the Amilcar was not resumed after World War II.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amilcar

AMPHICAR

The Amphicar was the only amphibious automobile ever mass-produced for sale to the public. The German vehicle was designed by Hanns Trippel, creator of the war-time Schwimmwagen and manufactured by the Quandt Group at Lübeck and at Berlin-Borsigwalde. Its name is a combination of "amphibious" and "car".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphicar

ANGUS-SANDERSON

The Angus-Sanderson was an English automobile manufactured fom 1919 to 1927.

In concept it was something like the Bean and Cubitt; the idea was that one model would be mass-produced, as Ford had done so successfully. The car was an assembly of proprietary parts, containing as it had a 2.3-liter engine from Tylor, a gearbox and rear axle by Wrigley, Woodhead springs, and Goodyear wheels. Approximately 3000 cars were produced but the car was expensive at £575. The company was refinanced as Angus Sanderson (1921) ltd and moved production from Birtley, County Durham to Hendon, Middlesex in 1921 and toyed with the idea of building a smaller 8hp car in 1925; neither of these actions nor a price reduction to £365 staved off the inevitable, and the company folded for good in 1927.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus-Sanderson

ANSALDO

The Ansaldo was an Italian automobile manufactured by an armaments concern from 1921 to 1931. The company entered car manufacture with an ohc 1847cc four-cylinder model which could develop 36 bhp at 3600 rpm. A sports version with 1981cc engine was offered, as was a six-cylinder version of 1991cc; later six-cylinders were offered with engines of 2179cc. Among the company's last cars was an ohv straight-eight of 3532cc. 

Ansaldos were generally of good quality and modern design, and copeted in many races. When Wikov began manufacture in Czechoslovakia in 1928, they built the 1453cc Ansaldo Tipo 10.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansaldo

AQUADA

The Gibbs Aquada is a high speed amphibian vehicle developed by Gibbs Technologies. It is capable of speeds over 100 mph on land and 30 mph on water. It uses revolutionary technology, combining the design of boats and wheeled vehicles to create a unique and effective vehicle. Rather than adding wheels to a boat design, or creating a car that floats, the Aquada was designed from the ground up to perform reasonably in both fields.

In 2004 Richard Branson, billionaire owner of the Virgin Group, set a new record for crossing the English Channel between England and France on water (as opposed to through the Channel Tunnel or via air) in the Aquada, in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The car is often compared to the submarine car in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. The car cost 250,000 US dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquada

ARAB

The constructors Parry Thomas and Reid Railton placed with the Arab - for past - technical scales only later from great vehicle manufacturers were reached. If it was fairly in the world, the Arab would have to be even more than one automobile-historical edge note.

The Art Déco coupé excited end of "roaring twenties" substantial sensation and was introduced in 1930 in The Autocar. Trump map is its excellent road holding and its engine fond of trick which owns own construction of Thomas as a specific feature at an angle hanging valves with leaf springs. 

Speeds about 150 km/h are to be achieved with the Arab. 2 Arab have been preserved till this day. A four-seater and the Super Sport Roadster.

The Arab was built only 3 years in Letchworth (England) (from 1926 to 1928). After the death of T. Parry (1927) which had an accident to put up a new high-speed record with the experiment closed R. Railton company Arab Motors Ltd. He designed later suitable vehicles for J. Cobb and Sir M. Campell. His Railton Mobile Special achieved in 1947 the record of 634,386 km/h which was outbid only in the sixties. 

Today the Arab Super Sport Roadster stands in Salzburg.

www.gaisbergrennen.at

ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY

Armstrong-Siddeley was a British company operating during the first half of the 20th century. It had two aspects motor cars, Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd, and aero-engines and aircraft, via the Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth Company, as a result of the merger of the interests of two Coventry-based companies, Armstrong-Whitworth and Siddeley-Deasy in 1919.

A predecessor company, Siddeley Autocars of Coventry, was founded by John Davenport Siddeley (1866-1953) in 1902. Its products were heavily based on Peugeots using many of their parts but fitted with English bodies. This company merged with Wolseley in 1905 and made stately Wolseley-Siddeley motorcars. They were used by Queen Alexandra and the Duke of York, the later King Edward VII.

In 1909 J.D. Siddeley resigned from Wolseley and took over the Deasy Motor Co and the company became known as Siddeley-Deasy. In 1912 the cars used the slogan "As silent as the sphinx" and started to sport a Sphinx as a bonnet ornament.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Siddeley

ASCARI

Ascari Cars was established in Dorset, England in 1995. A dedicated team of race professionals set out to develop their first limited-edition super car, the Ascari Ecosse, which was launched in 1998.

The history of Ascari is rooted in motor racing heritage. They were inspired and named after Alberto Ascari(1918 - 1955) who was the first double world Formula 1 champion.

In 2000 Ascari built a new facility in Banbury, to develop their second car, the Ascari KZ1, and to house Team Ascari's racing assets. For the first time the road-and-race side of the Ascari group came together in one place under one roof.

To complete the Ascari experience, in 2000 Ascari began to develop the first Race Resort in the world. Situated in a beautiful secluded valley in the south of Spain (Ronda), visitors can experience a totally new concept, where both high-speed adrenalin and luxurious relaxation are on offer at a modern race circuit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascari

ASTON MARTIN

Aston Martin was founded in 1914 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had joined forces the previous year to sell cars made by Singer. Martin raced specials at the Aston Hill Hillclimb near Aston Clinton, and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. They acquired premises at Abingdon Road in Kensington and produced their first car in March 1915.

The company name was derived from Aston Hill and Lionel Martin.

After the war hiatus, the company was revitalised with funding from Count Louis Zborowski. In 1922, Aston Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, and the cars set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands. Lionel Martin left in 1925; the following year, a number of rich investors, including Lord Charnwood, took control of the company as Aston Martin Motors, and moved the firm to new premises in Feltham. The 1929 Aston Martin International was another successful racer and was followed by the Le Mans and the Ulster. In 1936, the company, now owned by Sir Arthur Sutherland, decided to concentrate on road cars. The advent of World War II halted work, and the company languished throughout the war's duration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin

ATS

ATS (Automobili Turismo e Sport) was an Italian automotive constructor and racing team that operated between 1963 and 1965, formed after the famous "Palace Revolution" at Ferrari.

This team is not to be confused with the German ATS (wheels) F1 team of the 1970s and 1980s.

The company was formed by Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini, among others - intending for it to be a direct competitor to Ferrari both on the race track and on the street. Chiti and Bizzarrini built, with sponsorship from the Scuderia Serenissima's Count Giovanni Volpi, a road-going sports car and a Formula One car.

The sports car was the 2500 GT, a small coupé developed by Chiti and Bizzarrini with a bodywork built byMichelotti. The engine was a mid-mounted 2.5 L V8 engineered by Chiti, capable of achieving 245 hp (180 kW) and accelerating to 257 km/h (160 mph). Only 12 cars were reportedly built, and few exist today.

The F1 car was the Tipo 100, a 1.5 L V8 engine powering a chassis that was a virtual copy of the outdated Ferrari 156. Drivers Phil Hill and Giancarlo Baghetti, also fleeing from Ferrari, were signed to driver the new car, but a dismal season forced to Chiti to close the door on the racing team. The ATS would later be used in the Derrington-Francis F1 project spearheaded by Stirling Moss' former mechanic, Alf Francis.

After the demise of ATS, Bizzarrini moved to Lamborghini before building his own cars as Bizzarrini, while Chiti founded Autodelta, which would work closely with Alfa Romeo for the following decades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATS_%28automobile%29

AUBURN

Auburn was a brand name of United States automobiles from 1900 through 1937. It grew out of the Eckhart Carriage Company, founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1875 by Charles Eckhart (1841–1915). Eckhart's sons, Frank and Morris, began making automobiles on an experimental basis before entering the business in earnest, absorbing two other local carmakers and moving into a larger plant in 1909. The enterprise was modestly successful until materials shortages during World War I forced the plant to close.

The 1904 Auburn was a touring car model. Equipped with a tonneau, it could seat 2 or 4 passengers and sold for US$1000. The flat-mounted single-cylinder engine, situated at the center of the car, produced 10 hp (7.5 kW). A 2-speed planetary transmission was fitted. The angle-steel-framed car weighed 1500 lb (680 kg) and used half-elliptic springs.

In 1919, the Eckhart brothers sold out to a group of Chicago investors headed by Ralph Austin Bard, who later served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and as Under Secretary of the Navy for President Roosevelt and for President Harry S. Truman. The new owners revived the business but failed to realize the profits that they hoped for. In 1924, they approached Errett Lobban Cord(1894–1974), a highly successful automobile salesman, with an offer to run the company. Cord countered with an offer to take over completely in what amounted to a leveraged buyout. The Chicago group accepted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_Automobile

AUDI

The company traces its origins back to 1899 and August Horch. The first Horch automobile was produced in 1901 in Zwickau, in former East Germany. In 1910, Horch was forced out of the company he had founded. He then started a new company in Zwickau and continued using the Horch brand. His former partners sued him for trademark infringement and a German court determined that the Horch brand belonged to his former company. August Horch was forced to refrain from using his own family name in his new car business. As the word "horch!" translates to "listen!" in German, August Horch settled on the Latin equivalent of his name - "audi!". It is also popularly believed that Audi is an acronym which stands for "Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt". Audi produces over 2 million vehicles annually at its main production site in Ingolstadt. Audi has another production plant in Neckarsulm.

Audi started with a 2612 cc model followed by a four cylinder model with 3564 cc, as well as 4680 cc and 5720 cc models. These cars were successful even in sporting events. August Horch left the Audi company in 1920. The first six cylinder model (4655 cc) appeared in 1924. In 1928, the company was acquired by J S Rasmussen, owner of DKW, who bought the same year the remains of the US automobile manufacturer,Rickenbacker including the manufacturing equipment for eight cylinder engines. These engines were used inAudi Zwickau and Audi Dresden models that were launched in 1929. At the same time, six cylinder and a small four cylinder (licensed from Peugeot) models were manufactured. Audi cars of that era were luxurious cars equipped with special bodywork.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi

AUSTIN

Herbert Austin (1866-1941), later Sir Herbert, the former manager of the Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company founded The Austin Motor Company in 1905, at Longbridge, which was then in Worcestershire (Longbridge became part of Birmingham in 1911 when its boundaries were expanded). The first car was a conventional 5 litre four cylinder model with chain drive with about 200 being made in the first five years. In World War I Austin grew enormously with government contracts for everything from artillery to aircraft and the workforce expanded from around 2500 to 22,000.

After the war Herbert Austin decided on a one model policy based around the 3620cc 20hp engine and versions included cars, commercials and even a tractor but sales volumes were never enough to fill the vast factory built during war time and the company went into receivership in 1921 but rose again after financial restructuring. To expand the market smaller cars were

introduced with the 1661 cc Twelve in 1922 and later the same year the Austin 7, an inexpensive, small and simple car and one of the earliest to be directed at a mass market. At one point it was built under licence by the fledgeling BMW (as the Dixi) and Datsun, as well as Bantam in the U.S., and as the Rosengart in France.

A largely independent United States subsidiary operated under the name American Austin Car Companyfrom 1929 to 1934; it was revived under the name "American Bantam" from 1937 to 1941.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Motor_Company

AUSTIN HEALEY

The marque was established through a joint venture arrangement set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and Donald Healey, a renowned automotive engineer and designer.

Austin-Healey produced cars until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between Healey and Austin came to an end. Donald Healey left the company in 1968 when the British Motor Corporation (Austin had merged with Morris in 1952 to form BMC) was taken over by British Leyland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Motor_Company

AUSTRO DAIMLER

The Austro-Daimler was an Austrian automobile manufactured from 1899 until 1934.

The Austro-Daimler works were located at Wiener-Neustadt, and were originally a branch of the German Daimler factory. The firm gained its independence in 1906, and began producing cars which are still seen as excellent examples of their kind.

The first designer employed by the firm was Gottlieb Daimler's son, Paul Daimler; he was succeeded by the great Ferdinand Porsche, who was responsible for the Mercédés-Electrique-Mixte (manufactured from 1902 to 1907). Designers Karl Rabe and Oskar Hacker were also employed by Austro-Daimler, as were others. The company also competed in sporting events, with great success.

In 1911 Austro-Daimler began production of the Prinz Heinrich (in English: Prince Henry) model; this car, which featured an ohc 5714cc four cylinder engine, quickly became famous. It could develop 95bhp at 2100rpm; there was also a less potent version with side valves and a 6900cc engine capable of developing 60hp at only 1200rpm. Both designs were by Porsche, who also created the 1·3-liter "Sascha" racing cars(named after their backer, Count Sascha Kolowrat-Krakowski) in the early 1920s. The smallest model the company offered was a 2212cc four cylinder.

The outstanding production car offered by Austro-Daimler during the 1930s was the ADM, which featured ohc six-cylinder engines of 2540cc, 2650cc, and 2994cc. The last-named (the ADM III) developed 110hp at 4000rpm and was one of the greatest automobiles of the decade. Also offered was a less luxurious sporting version, the 100hp ADR.

1931 saw Austro-Daimler introduce a 4624cc eight cylinder car, a superb, highly expensive luxury vehicle. The last great car built at the Austrian works was the six-cylinder "Bergmeister", which featured an ohc 3614cc engine that could develop 120hp at 3600rpm; this car had a top speed of 90 mph.

Austro-Daimler had amalgamated with Puch in 1928 as Daimler-Puch. In 1934 the company also took on Steyr Automobile, creating the Steyr-Daimler-Puch conglomerate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Daimler

AUTOBIANCHI

Autobianchi was an Italian automobile manufacturer, it was created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1957. The word is pronounced "ah-oo-to-bee-AHN-kee."

The most famous Autobianchi models include the A112, released in 1969, a small hatchback very popular in Italy for racing, and ended production in 1986, as well as the Y10, which was the first car to use Fiat's new FIRE (Fully Integrated Robotised Engine). The Primula was the car with which Fiat introduced the particular front-wheel drive arrangement of engine, transmission, and differential that has become prevalent today.

Autobianchi was bought by the Fiat group and integrated into Lancia, until the name had stopped usage when the Y10 was transferred to the latter's product line-up, in 1989. However the name remained in Italy until the end of the Y10's production in 1995.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobianchi

AUTO UNION

Auto Union was a joint venture of four German automobile manufacturers, established in 1932 in Zwickau, Saxony, during the Great Depression.

The trademark of Auto Union was a symbol of four overlapping rings, symbolizing the four member companies (all four in a line, in an attempt to avoid confusion with the 5 Olympic rings). The trademarks and company names of the member companies - Horch, Audi, DKW and Wanderer - were continued; the four ring logo was used only in racing. The four ring logo of Auto Union is still a trademark, and now used by Audi.

It is best known for its racing team (Auto Union Rennabteilung, based in Zwickau), which was the main opponent of Mercedes-Benz in 1930s Grand Prix motor racing. The Silver Arrows of these two teams dominated not only 1930s car racing, but set records that would take decades to beat. For example, it took Formula One Grand Prix until the early 1980s to again reach the power levels of these cars.

Cars A to Z   |   Fahrzeuge von A bis Z

BALLOT

Ballot was a French automobile manufacturer. The Ballot brothers, Edouard and Maurice, founded their company in 1905. Before the World War I they manufactured automobile and marine engines. 

A Ballot vehicle driven by René Thomas finished second in the 1919 Targa Florio and second in the 1920 Indianapolis 500. Ralph DePalma, an American national champion and winner of the 1915 Indianapolis 500, finished second in the 1921 French Grand Prix and French driver Jules Goux finished third. Goux went on to win the inaugural Italian Grand Prix at Brescia, Italy driving a Ballot.

BENTLEY

Bentley Motors Limited is a British based manufacturer of luxury automobiles and Grand Tourers. Bentley Motors was founded in England on January 18, 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley, known as W.O. Bentley or just "W.O." (1888–1971). He was previously known for his successful range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later versions of the Sopwith Camel. The company is currently owned by the Volkswagen Group.

BENZ

In 1883 the three founded a new company producing industrial machines: Benz & Company Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik, usually referred to as, Benz & Cie. Quickly growing to twenty-five employees, it soon began to produce gas engines as well.

The company gave Benz the opportunity to indulge in his old passion of designing a horseless carriage. Based on his experience with, and fondness for, bicycles, he used similar technology when he created an automobile with a four-stroke engine of his own design between the rear wheels. Power was transmitted by means of two roller chains to the rear axle. Benz finished his creation in 1885 and named it the Benz Patent Motorwagen. It was the first automobile entirely designed as such, not simply a motorized carriage, which is why Karl Benz is regarded by many as the inventor of the automobile.

BERKELEY

There were two manufacturers of British Berkeley cars. The first company made some 18 hp cars in 1913. Little is known of this car. 

The second was Berkeley Cars Ltd of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, producing small cars with engines from 492 cc to 700 cc between 1956 and 1960. The company produced designs by Laurie Bond in the Berkeley caravan factory owned by Charles Panter. There were four models made. Production stopped in 1960 and an attempted merger with Bond Cars failed to come off. The Biggleswade factory site was later used to make womens underwear by Kasor Bondor but has since been demolished and turned into housing.

BERTONE

Gruppo Bertone is an Italian car styling and coachbuilding house, which also manufactures cars. Bertone styling is very distinctive, with most cars having a strong "family resemblance" even if badged by different manufacturers. Bertone has styled cars for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Lamborghini and Volvo Cars among others. In addition the Bertone studio were responsible for two of the later designs of the famous Italian motorscooter " Lambretta". The highly innovative and influential-if unsuccessful "Luna" range and the DL/GP -a makeover of the established LI Ser III design

BITTER

Bitter was produced in Germany and later Austria. The founder Erich Bitter, a former race car driver turned automobile tuner, importer and ultimately designer began crafting his own vehicles after business ventures with Italian manufacture Intermeccanica soured.

The Bitter automobile company produced vehicles between 1973 and 1989. Since 1984 several prototypes have been created by Bitter with an eye on possible low-volume production, but none of them came into fruition. Most recently Bitter displayed aPontiac GTO-based CD2 on the 2003 Geneva Motor Show.

BIZZARRINI

Italy from 1962 to 1969Prototipo Bizzarrini S.r.l., Livorno

Bizzarrini was an automotive manufacturer in the 1960s. Founded by former Ferrari engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini, the company built a number of automobiles before failing in 1969. The marque has been revived on a number of concept cars in the 2000s.

BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), is an independent German company and manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. BMW is the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. It is also one of the leading German car manufacturers.

BMW was officially founded as a public company in 1922, but traces its origins to the pioneering days of German aviation all the way back to 1913. Two of these pioneering men, Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto, are credited by BMW as the "founding fathers". However, BMW owes its actual founding by three men- Josef Popp, Max Friz, and Camillo Castiglioni. These men brought BMW through many turbulent times in the company's early life, as well as taking the company public in 1922 to form BMW AG...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bmw

BOND

Bond Aircraft and Engineering Co.1947-1975 Lingridge, Lancashire UK

BORBET

BORGWARD

BRICKLIN

The Bricklin SV-1 was a gullwing door sports car built in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada from 1974 until early 1976 for the US market. The car was the creation of Malcolm Bricklin, an American millionaire who had previously founded Subaru of America. Sales did not meet expectations, and only 2,854 cars were built before the company went into receivership, owing the government $23 million. It is believed approximately 1,500 Bricklin cars still exist...

BRISTOL

BRITISH LEYLAND

BRÜTSCH

BSM

BUGATTI

BUICK

BURTON

Photos - Bilder

Cars A to Z   |   Fahrzeuge von A bis Z

CADILLAC

Cadillac photos here ...

More Cadillac pics ... Classic Cadillac pics here ...

CATERHAM

Photos here ...

CHAMPION

Photos here ...

CHARRON

Photos here ...

CHECKER

Photos here ...

CHEVROLET

Photos here ...

CHRYSLER

Photos here ...

CISITALIA

Photos here ...

CITROEN

Citroen photographies here ...

CLENET

Photos here ...

CLIMAX

Photos here ...

COBRA

Photos here ...

More information - see AC Cobra

COCK

More information - see Witkar

COLANI

Photos here ...

COOPER

Photos here ...

CORD

Photos here ...

COTTIN & DESGOUTTES

Burton links

Cars A to Z   |   Fahrzeuge von A bis Z 

DAF

The DAF company was founded in 1932, when a machine construction company led by Huub and Wim van Doorne, changed its name to Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek (Van Doorne's Trailer Factory), abbreviated DAF...  [more on Wikipedia]

DAF Cars photos at Flickr  |  Photos here

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DAEWOO

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo or GMDAT) was first established as National Motor in 1937 in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea. After changing its name to Saenara Motor in 1962, Saenara Motor was bought by Shinjin Industrial in 1965, which changed its name to Shinjin Motor after establishing collaborations with Toyota... [more on Wikipedia]

DAEWOO Cars photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DAIHATSU

Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of cars, especially compact/small cars. These cars are also known as kei jidosha in Japan. Daihatsu researches hybrid vehicles and two stroke diesel engines.collaborations with Toyota... [more on Wikipedia]

DAIHATSU Cars photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DAIMLER

Daimler has been a British marque of motor car since 1896. It is now a division of Jaguar Cars, which is a subsidiary of the Premier Automotive Group. As of 2006, its production is limited to only one model, the Daimler Super Eight... [more on Wikipedia]

DAIMLER Cars photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DATSUN

Datsun is a former brand used by what is now Nissan, in order to sell their automobiles in North America and Australia... [more on Wikipedia]

DATSUN Cars photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DE DION BOUTON

De Dion-Bouton was a successful French automobile manufacturer at the beginning of the 20th century. The company was founded by Albert de Dion and Georges Bouton, who began building steam-powered automobiles in 1882. These vehicles used an innovative de Dion tube semi-independent suspension rear axle, which was later used by other manufacturers... [more on Wikipedia]

DE DION BOUTON photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DEHO

Deho was a 'tuner' for Simca racing cars:The SIMCA-Deho sports car was shown in 1939. At the end of 1939, an assessment was made of the first five business years, and was primarily positive. Indeed, SIMCA, had produced almost 70,000 cars and, thanks to the advised management of Pigozzi, its outlook was also good! Outside of France, the brand was quite successful in competition, particularly the Amédée Gordini modified 508 with a 28hp Topolino motor and the 508 C, with aerodynamic 2 seat body amd 28hp Topolino motor, which won several races, the Bol d'Or, la Course de Reims for small sports cars, the Paris-Nice rallye and the 1939 Course du Mans.

DEHO CAR photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DELAGE

The Delage Automobile company was established in 1905 in Levallois, a northwesterly suburb of Paris, France. It was founded by Louis Delâge (1874-1947), an ambitious young engineer who had been working for the Peugeot car company. Initially, the company was only an assembly plant, acquiring engines and drive trains from other manufacturers to use with their own body designs purchased from others. By 1908, success saw the operation in new production facilities and competing in Grand Prix motor racing. A year later, they were making their own engines and fabricating advanced body designs. Delage cars began winning important races until the onset of World War I in 1914 when the new factory in nearby Courbevoie was converted to military production... [more on Wikipedia]

Delage Car photos at Flickr

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DELAHAYE

The Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt driven, with single or twin cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company for unknown reasons. In 1901, the Société des Automobiles Delahaye constructed a factory in Paris, where they continued to manufacture automobiles and trucks... [more on Wikipedia]

DELAHAYE CARS photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DE LOREAN

The De Lorean Motor Company (DMC) was a short-lived automobile manufacturing company formed by automobile industry executive John De Lorean in 1975. It is remembered for the one distinctive model it produced – the stainless steel De Lorean DMC-12 sports car featuring gull-wing doors – and for its brief and turbulent history, ending in receivership and bankruptcy in 1982. Near the end, in a desperate attempt to raise the funds his company needed to survive, John De Lorean was filmed appearing to accept money to take part in drug trafficking, but was subsequently acquitted, on the basis of entrapment, of charges brought against him... [more on Wikipedia]

DELOREAN CAR photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DE SOTO

The DeSoto (sometimes De Soto) was a brand of automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961... [more on Wikipedia]

Desoto Car photos at Flickr

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DE TOMASO

De Tomaso Modena SpA is an Italian car-manufacturing company. It was founded by the Argentinian-born Alejandro de Tomaso (1928–2003) in Modena in 1959. The company went into liquidation in 2004; despite this, new cars were still being made by De Tomaso as of 2005. Originally, De Tomaso produced various prototypes and racing cars, including a Formula 1 car for Frank Williams's team in 1970... [more on Wikipedia]

DE TOMASO CAR photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DIATTO

Als Gründungsjahr ist 1835 protokolliert. Harald Linz aus München hat für sein demnächst erscheinendes automobiles Markenlexikon ausgiebig recherchiert: Der italienische Konstrukteur Guglielmo Diattobeschäftigte sich damals mit der Konstruktion von Eisenmaterial. Im Jahre 1835 kam es zum Bau von zwei- und vierrädrigen Kutschen – erstmals mit dem Markennamen Diatto, gefertigt in Turin. Giovanni Diatto begann im Jahre 1867 mit industriellen Eisenkonstruktionen. Seine Abnehmer domizilierten in aller Welt, er profilierte sich als Zulieferer von Eisenbahnen.

Deutlich später, nämlich am 12. April 1905, kam es zu einer geschäftlichen Vereinbarung zwischen der Firma„Ing. Vittorio & Pietro Diatto - Fonderia Officine Meccaniche“ und der Firma „Adolphe Clément-Bayard“, die ihren Sitz in Levallois-Perret bei Paris a.d. Seine hatte. Gegenstand des Vertrages: die Lizenz zum Bau der französische „Clément-Bayard“-Automobile. Diese Fahrzeuge trugen den Markennamen „Diatto“, bzw. „Diatto-Clément“. Wenig später erreichte ein Diatto den achten Platz bei der Targa Florio in Sizilien. 1919 stellte man Automobile unter Lizenz von Bugatti her. Es folgte die Konstruktion weiterer Rennwagen, die auch Erfolge einfuhren. 1922 entstand dann das berühmte Modell Diatto 20. Die Marke gewann an Bekanntheit und auch Alfieri Maserati arbeitete für Diatto. Durch die enge Zusammenarbeit mit Ettore Bugatti, den Brüdern Maserati und Tazio Nuvolari, begegnete man schließlich auch Zagato.

Quelle: Harald H. Linz

DIATTO photos by Google  |  Flickr photos here

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DIXI

The BMW Dixi was the first car made by BMW. Dixi had been making cars since 1904 but in the difficult times of the 1920's was finding it hard to sell its 6/24 and 9/40 models so looked to enter the small car market and in 1927 agreed a licence with

the Austin Motor Company to build the Austin 7. A production level of 2000 cars a year was agreed with Austin being paid a royalty on each one made... [more on Wikipedia]

DIXI CAR photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DKW(see also AUTO UNION)

Dampf-Kraft Wagen (German: steam-powered vehicle) or DKW is an historic car and motorcycle brand. In 1916, the Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen founded a factory in Saxony, Germany, to produce steam fittings. In the same year, he attempted to produce a steam-driven car, called the DKW. Although unsuccessful, he made a two-stroke toy engine in 1919, called 'Des Knaben Wunsch' - "the boy's wish". He also put slightly modified version of this engine into a motorcycle and called this 'Das Kleine Wunder' - "the small wonder". This was the real beginning of the DKW brand: by the 1930s, DKW was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1932, DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer to form the Auto Union, and all brands continued until World War II. After the war, Auto Union changed ownership a couple of times, first passed into the hands of Daimler-Benz in 1957, and was finally purchased by the Volkswagen Group in 1964... [more on Wikipedia]

DKW CAR photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DODGE

Dodge is a brand name of automobiles and light to heavy-duty trucks. From 1914 to 1927, the company was named the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Company. The Chrysler Corporation acquired the Dodge company in 1928. In 1998, Dodge along with all other Chrysler subsidaries, merged with Daimler-Benz... [more on Wikipedia]

DODGE CAR photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DONKERVOORT

Donkervoort Automobielen BV is a producer of sports cars based in Lelystad in The Netherlands. This car brand was founded in 1978 by Joop Donkervoort. In 1996, Donkervoort's Ford Zetec engines were replaced by Audi engines. The car

is based on the Lotus Seven. One of the differences is a redesigned nose cone... [more on Wikipedia]

DONKERVOORT photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DORETTI

Swallow Doretti made a 2 seater sports car based on the Triumph TR2 at a factory in Walsall, England between 1954 and 1955. The company name came from Swallow Sidecar Company which was sold in 1945 by Jaguar to the Tube Investments Group. The car had a tubular steel chassis with a body made of a steel inner skin and aluminium outer. Most cars were supplied with overdrive and the car was capable of 100mph. 276 cars were made including a single fixed head coupe version. Production stopped in 1955 when the parent company changed policy possibly because of a conflict of interest with the parent compnay supplying parts to potential rivals... [more on Wikipedia]

DORETTI photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DÜRKOPP

Even before the turn of the century, the Dürkopp factory in Bielefeld (founded 1867 by Nikolaus Dürkopp), had produced motorcycles, bicycles, motor cars and lorries. Dürkopp manufactured different motorcycles with one and two cylinder engines and even a four cylinder series engine appeared in their catalogue. These engines were solely their own construction. Because of a foray into motor car production, motorcycle manufacture was temporary stopped between 1912 and 1927. Thereafter, Dürkopp used the engines from other manufactures to fit into their motorcycles, e.g. the 98 cc Sachs engine for the M10 model... [more on Duerkopp.de]

DUERKOPP photos by Flickr  |  Photos here

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DUESENBERG

Duesenberg was a US-based luxury automobile company active from the 1910s until 1937. In 1913 the Duesenberg Brothers, Fred and August, founded Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa, at 8th and Grand Ave, to build sports cars. Born in 1876 and 1879 in Germany, the two brothers were self-taught engineers and built

many experimental cars. Duesenberg cars were considered some of the very best cars built at the time, and were built entirely by hand. In 1914 Eddie Rickenbacker drove a "Duesy" to finish in 10th place at the Indianapolis 500 and a Duesenberg car won the race in 1924, 1925, and 1927. 1923 saw the only use of the Duesenberg as the pace car at the Indianapolis 500. In 1921, Jimmy Murphy became the first American to win the French Grand Prix when he piloted a Duesenberg to victory at the Le Mans racetrack... [more on Wikipedia]

Cars A to Z   |   Fahrzeuge von A bis Z

EAGLE

Eagle was a short-lived marque of the Chrysler Corporation that was made from the remains of American Motors Corporation, aimed at the enthusiast driver. Even though the brand was short-lived, the Vision sold in respectable numbers, while the Talon sold more than 115,000 units. Eagle ran for 10 years, 1988 to 1998.

Further information see Wikipedia...

Eagle car photos by Flickr

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EDONIS

The Edonis is a car created by Italian automobile manufacturer B Engineering.

It is based on the Bugatti EB110 Super Sport but has been extensively re-engineered. About the only thing retained from the original Bugatti is the carbon-fiber chassis. Both the exterior and interior of the car have been completely redesigned. The 3.5 liter Bugatti engine has had its displacement increased from 3500 cc to 3760 cc. The original four small IHI turbochargers have been replaced by two larger units from the same manufacturer. Engine power has been boosted from 610 hp DIN (448 kW) and 650 Nm (479 ft·lbf) of torque to 680 hp DIN (500 kW) at 8000 rpm and 735 Nm (539 ft·lbf).

Further information see Wikipedia...

Edonis photos here  |  more Edonis photos by Flickr

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EDSEL

The Edsel was a make of automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company during the 1958, 1959 and 1960 model years. The car brand is best known as the most spectacular failure in the history of the United States automobile industry.

In the early 1950s, Ford Motor Co. became a publicly-traded corporation that was no longer entirely owned by members of the Ford family and was able to sell cars without being hindered by Henry Ford's antiquated preferences following the sellers' market of the post-war years. The new management compared the roster of Ford makes with that of General Motors, and noted that Lincoln competed not with Cadillac, but with Oldsmobile. The plan was developed to move Lincoln upmarket and put another make in beneath it, with yet another (Continental) at the very top. Research and development had begun in 1955 under the name "E-car" which stood for "Experimental car". This represented a new division of the firm alongside that of Ford itself and the Lincoln-Mercury division, whose cars at the time shared the same body. Continental was also sold in the latter division.

Further information see Wikipedia...

Edsel photos here  |  more Edsel photos by Flickr

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EMPIRE

Empire Auto Co. Amsterdam NY. Mr. Tillerwinkler 1898-1909

The Empire Car Works appears to have been started at York, Pennsylvania, following the Civil War. A testimonial to the quality of Excelsior Roofing Paint signed “Empire Car Co.” and datelined York, Pa., Sept. 1, 1879, says in part, “... the Excelsior Roofing Paint was applied to our buildings fourteen years ago, and we are now renewing it for the first time. 

The Empire Car Company took over the assets of the British Royale Motors. Today they offer the Sabre, a classic-looking two-seater, while the Windsor is being produced in the UK by Vintage Motor Company.

Further information see Wikipedia...

Empire Sabre photos here  |  more Empire photos by Google Images

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EMW

EMW was an East German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles based in Eisenach. After WW2 one of the BMW factories was located in the eastern sector and was taken over by the Soviets. The factory continued producing cars and motorcycles under the BMW name, but after a lawsuit in 1952 they had to change the name to EMW instead.The logotype was also similar, but instead of the blue BMW used, EMW used red. Later the automobile section of EMW became VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach and build the Wartburg. The motorcycle section became AWO and later Simson.

Further information see Wikipedia...

EMW photos here  |  more EMW photos by Flickr-FineCars

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ENZMANN

The history of the Enzmanns is a family history. Like many large stories, the whole began with an idea. The oldest son of E. Enzmann, a Garagisten and Hotelier from the Schuepfheim wanted to sketch a favorable, safe sports car. Since the car should develop only in a small series, the family (6 sons) decided to make the sports car of polyester resin. In order to save still more weights, one did without doors. Over a footstep niche one succeeded in the cockpit of the Enzmanns. The 506 had some very innovative ideas for his time; it possessed a front seat passenger impact cushion, integrated overroll bar, all cars with lap belts was delivered and had an ergonomically designed sport seat carrier.

Further information see Enzmann, Switzerland ...

Enzmann photos here  |  more Enzmann photos by Google-Images

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ERAEnglish Racing Automobiles

English Racing Automobiles (ERA) was a British racing car manufacturer active from 1933 to 1954.

ERA was founded towards the end of 1933 in Bourne, Lincolnshire by Humphrey Cook, a young man who was irritated that no British car had won a major continental race since Henry Segrave a decade earlier, and who hoped to produce a British car with the ability to win Grands Prix. However, by 1933 Grand Prix racing was becoming much more expensive thanks to the very large sums being spent by wealthy and government-backed works teams such as Auto Union and Alfa Romeo.

Further information see Wikipedia...

ERA photos here  |  more ERA photos by Google-Images

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ERMINI

Pasquino Ermini learnt his trade as a mechanic and driver during the 1920's and 30's with the Squadra Materassi and its Bugatti and Talbot cars. Following the war he built his first car, a combination of a (heavily modified) Fiat 1100 chassis and an Alfa Romeo 2500 engine. With this he competed in various events.

He then decided to produce his own engine, choosing to enter the then popular 1100 class. The result was a twin-cam 1094cc unit which emerged in 1947, one of the first twin-cams in that class. It immediately proved successful and was sold to many competitors, who fitted it to a variety of cars, usually either based on the 1100 or with a chassis by Gilco. Bodies were supplied by numerous carrozzeria. In 1949 Ermini began building complete cars, with his 1100 dohc engine, the chassis by Gilco and the bodywork by Tofani.

The early 1950's saw the Ermini 1100 as the car (or engine for those who chose to fit it to different chassis') to have. Tofani were unable to meet the demand, and so Motto and Morelli were used to produce the bodies. In 1953 Ermini introduced a new engine. Still a dohc 1100 it now had an aluminium block and five main-bearing crankshaft. Around 20 engines were built and were fitted to cars by Ermini themselves (with a chassis designed by Gilco), Scaglietti, Morelli and Frua (designed by Michelotti).

ERMINI photos here  |  more ERMINI photos by Google-Images

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EXCALIBUR

The Excalibur automobile was the first of the retro 'contemporary classic' or neoclassic cars, based on the 1928 Mercedes SS. A prototype premiered at car shows in 1963.