The model was very successful at its presentation and received a large number of orders, but reliability problems soon arose, leading quickly to the collapse of sales. The story of Cord began in 1929 in Connersville, Indiana, thanks to the entrepreneurial flair of Errett Lobban Cord, at the time the owner of Auburn, Duesenberg and … More The unlucky genius
This brand, deserves to be remembered for the innovation which was incredible for its time and which is still widely used in the four-wheeled vehicle sector: independent suspension. The history of A.G. Alfieri, founded by Giuseppe Alfieri in 1925 in Milan, can be considered, for the short period during which he remained active, a meteor … More State-of-the-art suspension
This original and non-conformist solution led Zündapp to choose the name Janus, from Giano, the Roman god depicted as two-faced with one face looking forwards and the other looking behind. The history of the Zündapp marque began in 1917 in Nuremberg and was always linked to the world of two-wheeled vehicles, but twice the company … More The little push-me-pull-you car
Erhardt purchased the licence to produce a car locally from the French company Decauville. The name he chose was Wartburg, inspired by the name of an ancient castle located in the area. When we think of the cars from former East Germany, what usually comes to mind is the funny one, the Trabant, or Trabi … More Not just Trabant
The innovation of Kriéger cars, in addition to their engine, was the braking energy recovery system, a system very popular on today’s electric and hybrid cars but in Kriéger’s time a brilliant idea which positioned his cars at the forefront of modern propulsion. The phenomenon of the car powered by electricity, which is becoming increasingly … More Green and Forgotten: the future in the past – Kriéger’s adventure
The initials “IM3” merged the initials of the two brands Innocenti and Morris, whilst the “3” referred to the third model produced in collaboration with the British group, after the A40 and the Spider. In almost forty years of activities as a car manufacturer, Innocenti di Lambrate is remembered mainly for the Mini models produced … More The Anglo-Italian
The innovative glass-fibre reinforced polyester bodywork meant certain decisions aimed at containing costs faded into the background. In the early 1960s, sales of the American marque Studebaker were not going at all well following the 1954 merger with Packard; the fate of the two brands now seemed to be sealed. Hopes were resting on a … More Too far ahead
This peculiarity made the small spider unique, but paradoxically the market failed to understand the constructive solution, it was too expensive and had performance which could not match the competition The Autobianchi marque, which appeared after the Second World War from the ashes of Bianchi, built cars successfully during the 41-year lifetime of the brand, … More The forgotten spider
Mechanically the car used the reliable components of the 127, including the engines. Its lines were simple, square and unoriginal – precisely why Fiat engineer Ghidella had discarded the project. In Yugoslavia in the early 1980s Zastava, a local car manufacturer, produced models under licence from Fiat and obtained the design of a compact car … More Sometimes we need a Yugo!
The first series was produced from 1978 and it became the first Eastern European car capable of withstanding the very tough USA crash tests, which meant it could be exported all over the world. Poland is not famous as a car manufacturing nation and we only know it as one through the Fiat models built … More Dancing… from Poland
Cars Forgotten - Stories 