C.AR (automobiles)
Encyclopedia
C.AR was a Greek
automotive company, founded in 1970. Originally it was called ARCO, both names being formed from the name of its founder, Constantinos Argyriadis, an engineer and architect. With its headquarters in Thessaloniki
and a well-equipped factory in Kilkis
it concentrated on design and development of automobiles and related technologies, including composite materials, novel suspension and brake designs, electric vehicles, etc. None of its vehicles, though, entered production and thus this company represents an odd case of personal vision and persistence with catastrophic financial results.
Its first project, the NP903Y incorporating novel applications resulted in the Iaspis sports car introduced in 1976. The car was presented in the Thessaloniki annual Trade Fair but its production was cancelled due to high costs involved and poor market prospects. A redesigned, improved sports car, the Kalliston I was introduced in 1984 but it also remained a prototype. C.AR then focused on an entirely new concept, developing a microcar with a 280 cc Kubota
engine. Development was based on an earlier (1981) C.AR test construction and the car was finally introduced in 1991. With a length of just 2.25 m, a maximum speed of 90 km/h and seating up to 4 people, the Baby-Car (as the model was named) would be, according to Mr. Argyriadis, an ideal city car. The company had already invested in its production when the project was cancelled due to financial limitations, forcing C.AR out of business.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
automotive company, founded in 1970. Originally it was called ARCO, both names being formed from the name of its founder, Constantinos Argyriadis, an engineer and architect. With its headquarters in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
and a well-equipped factory in Kilkis
Kilkis
Kilkis is an industrial city in Central Macedonia, Greece. As of 2001 there were 17,430 people living in the city proper, 24,812 people living in the municipal unit, and 56,336 in the municipality of Kilkis. It is also the capital city of the regional unit of Kilkis.-Name:Kilkis is located in a...
it concentrated on design and development of automobiles and related technologies, including composite materials, novel suspension and brake designs, electric vehicles, etc. None of its vehicles, though, entered production and thus this company represents an odd case of personal vision and persistence with catastrophic financial results.
Its first project, the NP903Y incorporating novel applications resulted in the Iaspis sports car introduced in 1976. The car was presented in the Thessaloniki annual Trade Fair but its production was cancelled due to high costs involved and poor market prospects. A redesigned, improved sports car, the Kalliston I was introduced in 1984 but it also remained a prototype. C.AR then focused on an entirely new concept, developing a microcar with a 280 cc Kubota
Kubota
, is a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. One of its notable contributions was to the construction of the Solar Ark. The company was established in 1890.The company produces many products including:...
engine. Development was based on an earlier (1981) C.AR test construction and the car was finally introduced in 1991. With a length of just 2.25 m, a maximum speed of 90 km/h and seating up to 4 people, the Baby-Car (as the model was named) would be, according to Mr. Argyriadis, an ideal city car. The company had already invested in its production when the project was cancelled due to financial limitations, forcing C.AR out of business.
Reference
- L.S. Skartsis and G.A. Avramidis, "Made in Greece", Typorama, Patras, Greece (2003) ISBN 960-7620-30-5 (republished by the University of Patras Science Park, 2007)