PGR 3 Car Manufacturers—What's In a Name: Part Two
As promised, here are more car manufacturer monikers and their origins for your amusement. More than one famous name started as two-wheel transportation makers and then moved on to bigger things.
Dodge
Dodge Brothers, Inc. was formed in 1914 by two brothers, John and Horace Dodge, who started their careers as bicycle makers and quickly became the key suppliers of parts for the Ford Motor Company.
In their first year, they introduced the "Old Betsy," a rugged car built for durability and reliability. Today, they're best known for putting the muscle back in "muscle cars" with the Dodge Viper.
Farboud
Farboud Sports Cars was founded in 2004 by Chris Marsh, an Englishman who previously designed and produced the Invicta S1 and ran Marcos Cars for 11 years.
The Farboud GTS got its start when Arash Farboud, who originally conceived the car, met Walsh at the 2001 British Racing Car Show. Together, they built a plan to bring the GTS into production.
Honda
Founded by Soichiro Honda, the Honda Motor Company is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and Japan's third largest car manufacturer.
The company got its start in post-World War II Japan when Honda bought up a surplus lot of 500 two-stroke motors and then adapted them for attachment to push bikes, creating the first mass-produced motorcycles. Honda has also supplied engines to six Formula One Constructor Champions and five Driver's Champions.
Jaguar
Jaguar got its start in 1922 when two young British motorcycle enthusiasts, William Lyons and William Walmsley, founded the Swallow Sidecar Company to produce sidecars for motorcycles.
The two quickly branched out from sidecars, first building custom bodies for other manufacturers and then building their own cars from scratch. As the company's focus evolved, so did its name, from the Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Co. to SS Cars Ltd. to Jaguar, which was first used in 1935.
Koenigsegg
Founded by Christian Von Koenigsegg in 1994, this small, Swedish supercar manufacturer employs 30 full-time staff, including engineers, designers, R&D, and assembly personnel.
When their first factory burned to the ground, Koenigsegg moved its operations to an F10 air force base in southwestern Sweden. The company's phantom logo is a tribute to the Swedish air squadron that operates from this base.
Lotus
This British car manufacturer was founded in 1952 by Colin Chapman, a former Formula One engineer who followed the philosophy "to add speed, add lightness" when designing and building race cars.
The company founder's full name is Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, and his initials are displayed in the Lotus trademark logo.
PGR 3 Car Manufacturers—What's in a Name: Part Three