Home » Articles
Car Articles
Read articles on cars and car industry. Get fully updated on all information related to cars. Read exciting happening in the Indian and Global Car industry, tips to help you and more...
Old Articles
A Brief History of Car Makers Part-II
Each car company has a history of its own which speaks volumes of the car maker itself. The origin and the story or the background of the yesteryears of car companies are as glorious as the marquees themselves and we in Carazoo.com thought we will give our readers something related to the history of car makers that will interest all the car enthusiast throughout the world. We came across loads of histories of car companies while writing this article and so thought we could as well give the articles in parts. You'll be reading the first part of the three “Brief History of Car Makers” articles and the subsequent parts will soon follow again in parts over the next two days.
This is the second part of our “A Brief History of Car Makers” article. Here we begin with a new set of car makers which will surely fascinate you.
This is the second part of our “A Brief History of Car Makers” article. Here we begin with a new set of car makers which will surely fascinate you.
Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari worked for Alfa Romeo before he decided to set up his own company to build racing and road cars. He set up a shop in Maranello, Italy and developed his own car in 1947 after years of modifying and building racing cars using Fiat and Alfa Romeo components. His first car was called the Tipo or Type 166. The name was derived from the displacement of a single cylinder in cubic centimetres and this became the Ferrari tradition for many years.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the legendary 250 GT, 250 GTO and 275 GTB were produced which were clothed in beautiful bodies by Pininfarina, the design house that Ferrari still uses to this day. Other iconic models followed throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, such as the 246 Dino, 365 GTB Daytona, 512BB, 308 GTS, Testarossa, 355 and 550 Maranello. Various roof styles were available on some of the models, including Berlinetta Coupe and Spider Convertible. Other noteworthy models include the F40, produced in 1988 to celebrate Ferrari's 40 years of building automobiles. Coincidentally, that was also the year Ferrari's founder Enzo Ferrari died. Presently, Fiat owns Ferrari and incredible sports cars such as the 360 Modena still roll out of Maranello.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the legendary 250 GT, 250 GTO and 275 GTB were produced which were clothed in beautiful bodies by Pininfarina, the design house that Ferrari still uses to this day. Other iconic models followed throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, such as the 246 Dino, 365 GTB Daytona, 512BB, 308 GTS, Testarossa, 355 and 550 Maranello. Various roof styles were available on some of the models, including Berlinetta Coupe and Spider Convertible. Other noteworthy models include the F40, produced in 1988 to celebrate Ferrari's 40 years of building automobiles. Coincidentally, that was also the year Ferrari's founder Enzo Ferrari died. Presently, Fiat owns Ferrari and incredible sports cars such as the 360 Modena still roll out of Maranello.
Ford
Ford Motor Company was established by Henry Ford in June 1903. The company has its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. Henry Ford always dreamed of building a car for the great multitude back in 1903, and that's precisely what he did. Perhaps the best-known Ford to date is the immortal Model T of 1908-1927, which was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 19-year life and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Today, Ford sells both cars and trucks and is made up of three divisions: Ford, Lincoln-Mercury and the Premier Auto Group.
Honda
Honda Motor Company was incepted 1948 as a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer by Soichiro Honda. It wasn't until 1962 that the first Honda car, a two-seat convertible, was built. But the company's major automotive breakthrough came in 1972 with the introduction of the 1973 Civic. Four years later, the Civic had already sold a million units and the company rolled out a slightly larger car that became wildly popular, the Accord. Known for its reliability, Honda currently offers seven models, including a gas/electric hybrid called the Insight.
Lamborghini
The founder of Lamboghini S.p.A, Ferruccio Lamborghini, made his fortune building farm tractors and air conditioning units in the 1950s and early 1960s. As a car enthusiast, he drove the best sports cars of the day, including Ferraris. Not very happy with the Ferrari cars he drove; he decided to build a better car and introduced the first Lamborghini, the 350GT, in 1964. The car's name came from its engine size, a 3.5-liter four-cam V12.
It was followed by the 400GT, which was produced until 1968. But it was the stunning mid-engined Miura, produced from 1966 to 1972, that shot Lamborghini to fame. Though Lamborghini made a number of other models, such as the four-seat Espada and various V8 sports cars, such as the Urraco, it was the mid-engined supercars that identified the marque. Cars like the wild Countach of the 1970s and 1980s and the Diablo of the 1990s were instantly recognizable as Lamborghinis, with their sinister styling by Marcello Gandini promising equally outlandish performance. Through the years, ownership of Lamborghini changed hands, with Chrysler taking the reins in 1987 and Volkswagen/Audi taking over in 1998. Though some may question the current German/Italian marriage, the product of this merger, the 322-km/h Murcielago, the Diablo's successor, leaves no doubt as to its benefit.
It was followed by the 400GT, which was produced until 1968. But it was the stunning mid-engined Miura, produced from 1966 to 1972, that shot Lamborghini to fame. Though Lamborghini made a number of other models, such as the four-seat Espada and various V8 sports cars, such as the Urraco, it was the mid-engined supercars that identified the marque. Cars like the wild Countach of the 1970s and 1980s and the Diablo of the 1990s were instantly recognizable as Lamborghinis, with their sinister styling by Marcello Gandini promising equally outlandish performance. Through the years, ownership of Lamborghini changed hands, with Chrysler taking the reins in 1987 and Volkswagen/Audi taking over in 1998. Though some may question the current German/Italian marriage, the product of this merger, the 322-km/h Murcielago, the Diablo's successor, leaves no doubt as to its benefit.
Lincoln
The Lincoln Motor Car Company was founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland who formed the Cadillac car brand as well with William C. Durant in 1902. Leland named the brand after his longtime hero, the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln.
The car company quickly fell into financial distress and was bought by Ford Motor Company in 1922. Its rapid acceleration made the Lincoln car a favorite with both gangsters and police; even US President Calvin Coolidge purchased one in 1924. The Lincolns cars are still viewed as prestigious luxury cars known for their powerful engines, smooth rides and spacious interiors.
The car company quickly fell into financial distress and was bought by Ford Motor Company in 1922. Its rapid acceleration made the Lincoln car a favorite with both gangsters and police; even US President Calvin Coolidge purchased one in 1924. The Lincolns cars are still viewed as prestigious luxury cars known for their powerful engines, smooth rides and spacious interiors.
» Read more Articles On Car makers
» Read more Articles On Ferrari
