Unic
Encyclopedia
Unic was a French car manufacturer firm founded by Georges Richard
in 1906 after having left Richard-Brasier
. Société anonyme des automobiles UNIC was established in Puteaux
with two-cylinder and four-cylinder models. The 1943 cc 12 CV (9 kW) four-cylinder model (used mainly as a taxi) was extremely successful and survived in production for nearly 20 years. (The engine was enlarged later to 2120 cc.) During World War I
, taxis made by the company participated in Marne
operation. After World War I, a new four-cylinder (1847 cc) was offered, along with the taxis.
Truck production started in that era. During the 1920s, a 1997cc sports model was marketed and in some models sleeve valve
engines were used. Georges Richard died in 1922. In the 1930s, there were two eight-cylinder models.
Passenger car production ceased in 1938, and from then on Unic concentrated in the truck business, being one of the leading French makes. In 1966 it was taken over by Italian Fiat
and eventually merged into Iveco
in 1975.
, headed by Henri Pigozzi
, who wanted a commercial vehicle production unit. Trucks of this period are commonly referred to as Unic-Simca trucks.
In 1956 the French arm of the Swiss truck manufacturer Saurer
was taken over.
In 1966 Unic joined the Fiat
Group.
In 1975 a holding company named IVECO
was established covering truck and bus brands such as Fiat
, OM
, Lancia
, UNIC and Magirus
.
In 1976 UNIC-FIAT S.A. became UNIC S.A..
In 1992 IVECO UNIC S.A. changed its name to IVECO FRANCE S.A..
In 2003, the company's headquarters moved from Villejuif
to Boissy St Léger, where a second facility was established in 1995.
Georges Richard
Georges Richard was a French automobile that was manufactured from 1897 to 1902. Originally copying Benz cars of the era, Richard bought a licence, in 1900, from the Belgian Vivinus to build voiturettes. The designer Brasier joined the firm in 1902 and the marque became Richard-Brasier. Georges...
in 1906 after having left Richard-Brasier
Richard-Brasier
Richard-Brasier was the successor of the early French automobile maker Georges Richard from 1902. The firm made large chain-driven cars.Léon Théry drove the cars to victory in the Gordon Bennett Cup races in 1904 and 1905...
. Société anonyme des automobiles UNIC was established in Puteaux
Puteaux
Puteaux is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine department from the center of Paris....
with two-cylinder and four-cylinder models. The 1943 cc 12 CV (9 kW) four-cylinder model (used mainly as a taxi) was extremely successful and survived in production for nearly 20 years. (The engine was enlarged later to 2120 cc.) During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, taxis made by the company participated in Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
operation. After World War I, a new four-cylinder (1847 cc) was offered, along with the taxis.
Truck production started in that era. During the 1920s, a 1997cc sports model was marketed and in some models sleeve valve
Sleeve valve
The sleeve valve is a type of valve mechanism for piston engines, distinct from the usual poppet valve. Sleeve-valve engines saw use in a number of pre-World War II luxury cars and in USA in the Willys-Knight car and light truck...
engines were used. Georges Richard died in 1922. In the 1930s, there were two eight-cylinder models.
Passenger car production ceased in 1938, and from then on Unic concentrated in the truck business, being one of the leading French makes. In 1966 it was taken over by Italian Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
and eventually merged into Iveco
Iveco
Iveco, an acronym for Industrial Vehicle Corporation, originally an alliance of European commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Fiat , Unic and Magirus. Iveco is now an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin...
in 1975.
History
In 1952, the firm was taken over by SimcaSimca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
, headed by Henri Pigozzi
Henri Pigozzi
Henri Pigozzi , a car merchant and industrialist, was born as Enrico Teodoro Pigozzi in Turin, Italy....
, who wanted a commercial vehicle production unit. Trucks of this period are commonly referred to as Unic-Simca trucks.
In 1956 the French arm of the Swiss truck manufacturer Saurer
Saurer
Adolph Saurer AG was a Arbon, Switzerland , based manufacturer of trucks and buses, under the Saurer and Berna brand names, and active between 1903 and 1982....
was taken over.
In 1966 Unic joined the Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
Group.
In 1975 a holding company named IVECO
Iveco
Iveco, an acronym for Industrial Vehicle Corporation, originally an alliance of European commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Fiat , Unic and Magirus. Iveco is now an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin...
was established covering truck and bus brands such as Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, OM
Officine Meccaniche
Officine Meccaniche or OM was an Italian car and truck manufacturing company, founded in 1899 in Milan as Societa Anonima Officine Meccaniche...
, Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
, UNIC and Magirus
Magirus
Iveco Magirus AG is a truck manufacturer based in Ulm, Germany, founded by Conrad Dietrich Magirus . The company began manufacturing fire-fighting vehicles in 1864. In the late 1910s, it started the production of trucks and buses...
.
In 1976 UNIC-FIAT S.A. became UNIC S.A..
In 1992 IVECO UNIC S.A. changed its name to IVECO FRANCE S.A..
In 2003, the company's headquarters moved from Villejuif
Villejuif
Villejuif is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.-Name:The name Villejuif was recorded for the first time in a papal bull of 1119 as Villa Judea, the meaning of which is still debated...
to Boissy St Léger, where a second facility was established in 1995.
External links
- http://perso.wanadoo.fr/vis/historique.htm
- Unic taxicab 1912, undergoing service at The London General Cab Company, Camberwell. 1950s Video