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Fafnir was a German engine and vehicle manufacturer based in Aachen. They made a range of cars between 1908 and 1926.[1]
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2010) |
The company was founded in 1894 producing needles. With the growth of the bicycle industry, they started to make wheel spokes. In 1898, the company was registered as "Carl Schwanemeyer, Aachener Stahlwarenfabrik AG".
From 1902 the name "Fafnir" started to be used on the company's products, including a range of motorcycle engines.
Omnimobil and early car production
In 1904, the company started to produce kits, consisting of an engine and associated components, to allow others, particularly bicycle makers, to enter into motor vehicle production. These were sold under the name "Omnimobil". The kit at first was based around a two-cylinder engine rated at 6 Horsepower(HP) with later a larger option with a four-cylinder, 16 HP unit.
Beginning in 1908, finished cars were manufactured with the type "274" with a 1520 cubic centimetre(cc) engine and a maximum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and the type "284" with 2012cc capable of 70 km/h (43 mph). The engines had overhead inlet and side exhaust valves.
By 1912 six different models were available at prices between 4,100 and 16,000 German Reichsmark(RM).
Early motorcycle production
From 1900, the company produced motorcycle engines in various capacities up to 8h.p. V-twins. From 1903 until 1914 they also produced complete motorcycles.[2]
The 1914 engine production included the following:[3]
- 2.5 hp (70mm bore, 80mm stroke) single with ball bearing crankshaft
- 3.5 hp (85mm bore, 88mm stroke) single with ball bearing crankshaft
- 4.5 hp (86mm bore, 96mm stroke) single
- 5-6 hp (70mm bore, 80mm stroke) twin
- Cycle Car engine (85mm bore, 88mm stroke) twin with either air or water cooling
Post World War I cars
In 1919, the company changed its name to Aachener Stahlwarenfabrik Fafnir-AG. The pre war 1924 cc Typ 472 and 2496 cc Typ 384 were re-introduced and a new Typ 471 with 1950 cc engine announced which could be bought with a supercharger.
The Typ "471" proved to be the last car model made and survived in production until 1927.
Motor sport
Fafnir had its own racing team running up to seven cars with drivers including Rudolf Caracciola. A replica of one of the racing cars has been built in the United Kingdom and competed in number of VSCC events fitted with a WW1 Hall-Scott aero engine.[4]
Closure
Fafnir production methods were very labour-intensive, and with the difficult trading conditions of the 1920s failed to compete with the large manufacturers. Prices were reduced, but losses mounted and with debts of 1.8 million RM the banks forced the company into bankruptcy in 1925 with a resulting closure in 1926.
Fafnir cars
| Type | years | cylinders | capacity | power output | top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typ 274 | 1908-? | 4 in-line | 14 PS (10,3 kW) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | |
| Typ 284 (8/16 PS) | 1909-1912 | 4 in-line | 2012 cc | 16 PS (11,8 kW) | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| Typ 384 (10/25 PS) | 1910-1914 | 4 in-line | 2496 cc | 25 PS (18,4 kW) | 75 km/h (47 mph) |
| Typ 486 (6/16 PS) | 1913-1920 | 4 in-line | 1559 cc | 16 PS (11,8 kW) | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| Typ 394 (14/35 PS) | 1914 | 4 in-line | 3990 cc | 35 PS (25,8 kW) | 85 km/h (53 mph) |
| Typ 471 (9/30 PS / 9/36 PS) | 1920-1927 | 4 in-line | 2250 cc | 30-36 PS (22-27 kW) | |
| 8/50 PS Sport | 1923-1927 | 4 in-line | 2000 cc | 50 PS (37 kW) |
See also
- Aachener
References
- Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
- The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles by Erwin Tragatsch, Grange Books plc, ISBN 1-85627-004-1
- "Fafnir Motor Cycle Engines", The Motor Cycle magazine, 16 July 1914, p94A
- "Euregio-classic-cup.de" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
External links
- Documents and clippings about Fafnir in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW
На других языках
[de] Fafnir-Werke
Fafnir war ein deutsches Unternehmen in Aachen, das von 1903 bis 1926 Automobile herstellte – zeitweise auch unter der Marke Aachener.- [en] Fafnir (automobile)
[it] Fafnir (azienda)
La Fafnir Aachener Stahlwarenfabrik AG era una casa automobilistica tedesca con sede ad Aquisgrana in Jülicherstraße.[ru] Fafnir
Фафнир (нем. Fafnir) — немецкая (город Ахен) фирма по производству двигателей для легких автомобилей и мотоциклов. Основана в 1894 году. С 1908 года занялась производством автомобилей одноимённой марки.Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.
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