Dating back to 1907, Praga is one of the most important Czech makes. The first car to carry the Praga name appeared in 1910 with the slogan “cars which last for hundreds of thousands of kilometers.” In 1929, Praga produced 7,500 vehicles–more than all other Czech companies combined.
PTV was a line of cars produced by Automóviles Utilitarios S.A., a Spanish company based near Barcelona. While it was much closer to being a “real” car than the (French) Voisin-designed Biscuter, it always played second fiddle as far as sales were concerned.
From the 1930s to the 1970s, this was the way high-quality bikes were made: Lugs, which are cast steel sockets, were fitted to the corners of the frame. Next, metal tubes were fitted to the lugs and held in place by brazing or silver soldering.
The classic English roadster produced from the 1930s through the1960s, had a lugged steel frame, with an internal 3-speed hub, and upright riding position.
The Ant was initially designed for export to Greece and other Mediterranean and middle east countries. Due to its versatility, it also found an English market.
Reliant Engineering Ltd. was established in 1935 to make 3-wheeled delivery vans powered by Austin Seven engines. In 1953 they brought out their first passenger car--the Regal.
In 1953, Reliant Engineering Co. brought out their first passenger car–the Regal. Reliant chose this name in recognition of the Coronation of Elizabeth II, also in that year.
The Robin replaced the Regal. It has a fiberglass body attached to a box steel chassis. It features a rear opening window that soon became a trend used on cars around the globe.
In 1962, the Renault 4CV was replaced by another back-to-basic car, the Renault 4. It was no secret that the “r4" was aimed at giving the Citroën 2CV some competition.
In 1898, Alfred Renault, choosing not to go into the family button business, built a small car in a workshop in the garden of his family’s home. The “Type A” was shown at the 1899 Paris Salon.
In 1972, Renault brought out a 3-door hatchback called the 5. By the time the original 5 was replaced in 1984, nearly 5.5 million had been made. In 1978, a remarkable version of the 5 was announced - the 5 Turbo.
The 4 cylinder Renault Alpine 310 was launched in 1972. Some consider the Alpine one of France’s best kept secrets–it was a more practical and cheaper alternative to the Porsche 911. The V6 engine, introduced in 1976, allowed the A310 to rival the best sports cars in Europe.