All the Makes: Abarth to Austro-Daimler |
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ABARTH
(1941 -
1971)
Founded by Carlo Abarth in 1941, the company commenced
the manufacture of sports cars in 1949 and is best
remembered for the 204 Berlinetta of 1950. Used a
Fiat driveline, and was subsequently taken over by
Fiat in 1971.
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ABC
(1920 - 1929)
Pretty much a one-model manufacturer, the air-cooled
ABC was the brainchild of engineer Granville Bradshaw.
Those who have seen one may claim we are incorrect,
but just as the Titanic had a 4th false funnel, so
too the ABC featured a false radiator and filler
cap (although the latter filler cap was used as a
petrol filler). Best of the model was the 1925 Super
Sports, with 1203cc two-cylinder engine.
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AC
( 1904 -
present)
Founded by John Weller and John Portwine in 1904,
they began manufacturing basic commercial vehicles
until the release of the 1908 AC Sociable. Experienced
immense difficulty in the 1920's, including the founders
leaving and being liquidated in 1929. Somehow managed
to survive the next 30 years manufacturing a 3 wheeled
invalid car, but the masterpieces were to come in
the 1950's, with the release of the Ace and fearsome
Ford V8 powered Cobra.
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Guide
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ADAMS
(1905 - 1910)
The first Adams car was a single cylinder, selling
well from 1905 to 1910. Went on to develop some twin-cylinder
models, 5 four cylinder models and even an early (1908)
V8 version. The rapid development of different models
placed the company under extreme financial pressure,
it foundering in 1910.
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ADLER
(1900 - 1939)
Famous for its range of typewriters and bicycles, used
De Dion engines at first but soon began manufacture
of its own engines. The V-Twin and four cylinder engined
cars became very popular in Germany, Adler cars accounting
for 1 in every 4 on the roads. By 1925 they had expanded
the range to include a 6 cylinder model, then a very
advanced 1.5 liter front-wheel-drive known as the Trumpf.
Production ceased at the outbreak of war, only motorcycles
being built thereafter until 1957.
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ALFA ROMEO
( 1909 - present)
Born from a factory built by Alexandre Darracq near
Milan to build cars out of French supplied parts, the
struggling concern being taken over by Anomima Lombardo
Fabbrica Automobil in 1909. Quickly established itself
as a major sports car manufacturer when Nicolà
Romeo joined in 1915. Struggled with the high cost
of sports car development through the 1930's and was
taken over by the Italian government. Mussolini, seeking
prestige through track success, would oversee the company
take out 11 Mille Miglia wins through the remained
of the 1930's.
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Guide | Colour
Codes |
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ALLARD
(1937 - 1960)
Founded by Sydney Allard, who before World War II had
spent much of his time building highly powered sports
cars using Ford V8 engines. Best known for the 1949
J2 which used a 3.2 liter Mercury derived engine, the
company was not able to compete with the cheaper sports
cars being manufactured by Jaguar, and from 1960 became
the manufacturer of Shorrock supercharges.
Price Guide |
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ALPINE
(1955 - 1994)
Strongly linked to Renault (as Ford was to AC and
Fiat to Abarth), Alpine was founded by Jean Rodélé.
The son of a Renault dealer, he would win the 750cc
class of the Mille Miglia in a 4CV based race special.
Reached its zenith in 1960 with the release of the
awesome rear-engined A110. Went on to build several
revisions, all successful , and control assumed by
Renault in 1972. The final A610 was manufactured in
1994. |
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ALVIS
(1920 - 1967)
Founded by T.G. John in 1919, went on to manufacturer
some of the highest quality sports cars in the first
half of last century, most noteably the Speed 20 and
Silver Eagle. For a time was competitor to Bentley,
but struggled to re-gain past days of glory following
World War II. The 1965 merger with Rover was the death
knell.
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Marques | Price
Guide |
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AMC
(1954 - 1988)
Formed from a merger between Nash and Hudson, using
the Nash Rambler as its platform to regain market share.
Followed with some suprisingly good models, such as
the 1959 V8 Ambassador and sporty Javelin. Purchased
Kaiser-Jeep in 1970, the Jeep becoming AMC's best seller
for many years. Still no match for the Big 3, made
a play for the compact car market with the Pacer, an
oversized small car. Taken over by Chrysler in 1988,
but they only wanted the Jeep.
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AMILCAR
(1921 - 1939)
Began the manufacture of small sports cars featuring
a 1 liter four cylinder side valve engine. Each successive
model was faster and more elaborate, first moving to
an overhead valve configuration, then straight six
and eight cylinder iterations capable of over 120mph.
Manufacture ceased at the outbreak of war, and never
re-commenced. |
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AMPHICAR
(1961 - 1968)
Short lived German manufacturer that thought outside
the square, manufacturing around 4500 of the rather
odd amphibious vehicles. The majority (some 3700)
were exported to the USA, the remainder being sold
in Europe. The marque now has a strong following
given the rather peculiar nature of the car, and
of course its scarcity today.
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ARMSTRONG-SIDDELEY
(1919 - 1960)
Formed from the merger of Armstong-Whitworth and Siddeley-Deasy,
their first car would remain in production for some
13 years. Concentrated on the manufacture of 6 cylinder
cars from 1929 to World War II. Post war sales did
were far from impressive, despite the beautiful lines
of the Star Sapphire, and the parent company was merged
with aircraft manufacturer Bristol in 1960.
Price
Guide |
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ARROL-JOHNSTON/ARROL-ASTER
(1895 - 1929)
Car manufacturing pioneer responsible for the twin
piston/single cylinder engine that powered the cars
it manufactured from 1895 to 1906. Developed 50 electric
cars for Edison in 1913, but the release of the Victory
model in 1919 was a disaster. Joined with engine maker
Aster in 1927 in an attempt to remain viable, but it
was too little too late. |
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ASIA MOTORS
An offshoot of Kia, responsible for the manufacture
of 4x4 copies of the Jeep. For the European markets
the car was named the Rocsta, but thankfully this unrefined
dinosaur would not make it to Australia. |
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ASTON MARTIN
(1922 - present)
Prestigous British marque plagued by financial mis-management.
Built its first road going car in 1923, then went into
receivership in 1924. Rescued by engineers Renwick
and Bertilli, the cost of their racing programme would
see the company founder again in the early 1930's.
Two more ownership changes did not progress things
much, until David Brown took control in 1947. His company
may have built tractors, but was now responsible for
the manufacture of very desirable sports cars, just
ask Bond.
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Guide | Colour
Codes |
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AUBURN
(1900 - 1937)
Named after the town of Auburn, Indiana by founders
Frank and Morris Eckhardt. Sourced engines from Continental,
starting out with the manufacture of a single-cylinder
chain driven runabout, then a twin-cylinder in 1905,
a four cylinder in 1910 and a six in 1912. The company
was taken over by Erret Lobban Cord in the early 1920's,
he being responsible for the development of a completely
new range of Auburns for 1925. Best remembered for
the 100+mph Speedster, the company was forced to take
a financial loss on every one made during the depression.
The inevitable liquidation came in 1937.
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AUDI
(1910 - 1939 and 1965 -
present)
Founded by August Horch following his fall out with
partners at the company already bearing his name, Audi
being the literal German translation of his own name.
Manufactured some successful competition cars before
concentrating on trucks during World War I. DKW would
take a controlling share 1928, Audi then manufacturing
small cars. Audi, DKW along with Wanderer and Horch
would become part of the Auto Union concern, hence
the 4 ringed badge seen today. Was nationalised after
World War II and placed under Mercedes control in 1949.
When VW gained a majority share in 1965 they decided
to re-introduce the now forgotten Audi name for a new
front-wheel-drive 1700 sedan. Went on to become VW's
upmarket brand.
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AUSTIN
(1905 - 1989)
Formed from a partnership between Herbert Austin and
Frederick Wolseley, began making largish and popular
cars such as the Ten and Twenty. Rose to prominance
with the cheap and cheerful but very robust Seven,
following up with the ingenious Mini. Went into a slow
but unstoppable decline after the takeover by British
Leyland.
It is worth noting however that the first ever Australian Grand Prix was taken out by an Austin Seven, although it was driven by an Englishman.
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AUSTIN-HEALEY
(1953 - 1971)
Donald Healey partnered with son Geoffrey to build
a sports car based on Austin components, having experience
building such cars with components from Riley, Nash
and Alvis. Austin agreed to provide components from
the A90 Atlantic, however the Healey design could not
have looked more different. The Big Healeys may have
been cheaper than the E-Type, but gave little away
in performance or sports car feel. Geoffrey Healey
then partnered with Gerry Coker to design the Sprite,
hugely successful no doubt due to its affordability.
The Sprite was eventually dropped in favour of the
mechanically identical MG Midget, and the Austin-Healey
marque was allowed to pass into Unique Car legend.
Gallery | Heritage | Price
Guide |
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AUSTRO-DAIMLER
(1899 - 1936)
Began as part of the German Daimler empire, when
Austrian company Bierenz-Fischer & Co agreed
to build 100 Daimler cars under licence. When a
certain Ferdinand Porsche was appointed director
in 1903, the company manufacturing cars in its
own right was inevitable. Finally able to bury
financial ties with the parent company in 1906
and assumed the Austro-Daimler name 5 years later.
While Porsche designed, the company manufactured
Maja cars under licence for Emile Jellinek, consul-general
for the Austro-Hungarian empire in Nice.
A Porsche
designed Austro-Daimler then took out the Austrian
Alpine Tour. Despite coming up with some innovative
designs, Porsche was frustrated at the pace with
which the company could bring new product to market,
and so defected back to Daimler in 1923. His replacement,
Karl Rabe who facilitated the merge with Austro-Fiat,
and then with Puch in 1928. With the 1935 merger
with Steyr-Werke the Austro-Daimler name was resigned
to the history books. |
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