The car "horh": the history of the famous brand

Versatile, eventful history of the famous car brand "Horch" goes back to the 19th century. 14 Nov 1899 talented German engineer August Horch in Cologne, he founded his own company to manufacture vehicles Horch & Cie. Motorwagen Werke. A year later the world saw the first car brand "Horch" of the different design innovations. Subsequently, the August Horch was one of the first famous automotive designers in the world.

August Horch

Future talented engineer and successful entrepreneur was born on 12 October 1868 in the town of Winningen in the family of a blacksmith. Family August Horch could not boast of wealth, but because he had to work with 13 years. Having changed several occupations, purposeful and quarrelsome Horch not inspired by any of them, and in 1888, decided to enroll in the Saxon school of engineering. To compensate for the lack of knowledge, persistent young man successfully graduated from school and went to work first on the foundry, and then in the design Department of the shipbuilding company, where he first encountered with internal combustion engines.

His life changed dramatically after in 1896 he came to the racing. At the time this vehicle was a marvel of technology. Horch asked many mechanics about motorcycles and by the evening had decided to write a letter with detailed information about yourself and a request for employment to the firm Benz. Not expecting a quick answer, August was pleasantly surprised when soon got the news that he is adopted and needs to immediately get to work. 27-year-old Horch was appointed assistant chief in the Department of engine development, but after four months of due diligence, was put in charge of car production.

Founding

Karl Benz was too conservative for the ambitious young German, and in 1899 August Horch, with the financial support of one wealthy merchant in the suburbs of Cologne, Ehrenfeld established the company Horch & Cie. Motorwagen Werke. At first a small company with a staff of 11 employees engaged exclusively in the repair of other vehicles. But a year later after founding the first car appeared "Horch" with two-cylinder engine with a power of 5 HP. the Beginning of the story by the name of Horch was supposed to. The press was still discussing a new car when the company has released a second model - the first German car with shaft drive.

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The First car

The First two models of the Horch issued until 1901, was 5 and 10 HP was Equipped with these vehicles cylinder engine located in the front. In the first model (4-15 PS) drive to the rear driving wheels was carried out through a belt transmission. In the second model (10-16 PS) for the first time in Germany, the drive was through a cardan transmission. The main structural advantage of the first car "Horch" was a gear shift, located in whole block together with the main gear. At the time it was revolutionary.

The body of the cars were of the open type, the work carriage workshop. The coverage was carried out by candle lights. Unlike the powerful cars of later years, the first Horch could barely reach a top speed of 32 km/h. However, this was a significant figure at the time. The cars used a friction clutch. The first "Horch" (car) photo below demonstrates.

Road to success

From customers for a new car "Horch" with engine 10-12 HP and noiseless box is resting. The staff has grown to ninety people. To work on the engine was brought talented engineer Fritz Seidel. The same company became too small, and in 1902 the production was moved to Reichenbach and two years later, in Zwickau (Saxony), where the company was transformed into a joint stock company with an impressive at the time, the registered capital of 140 thousand marks.

The First model released with a new production, characterized by a large number of design innovations. It was running the new transmission is working silently, with gears of high-alloy chromium-Nickel steel. The clutch located between the gearbox and the engine. Torque on the rear drive axle passed through the driveline. In 1906 the car "Horch" won his first victory at the racing that has brought the company even more popular and more and more orders. In the same year, the new model Horch began to exhibit in Berlin and Paris showrooms. A year later he was presented a luxury model with vosjmimetrovaya six-cylinder engine producing 60 HP, the first holder of which was the Sultan of the Indonesian island of Java.

Four rings – four brand

Innovative approach and constant search for new solutions to the August Horch in the design of cars demanded constant financial injections. It is not pleasing shareholders and led to constant disagreements. Horch believed involved in motor racing the best advertisement for the brand. Company cars have become regular participantsthe competition, the designer himself often sat behind the wheel.

The World speeds requires continuous investment and growth. So, in 1906, the company releases a new model ZD. German car "Horch ZD" with a 5.8-liter engine and lightweight sports cars were specially built for participation in the prestigious race of Henry of Prussia. Bad performance in the competition led to the aggravation of the already difficult relations with shareholders, who were extremely dissatisfied with the sales of the previous model Horch Z. Stubborn designer rejected any proposed compromise, completely defending your point of view. In the summer of 1909, under pressure from shareholders Horch left the company he founded, but a month later in the same Zwickau, it registers a new company, August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH.

Two firms with almost identical name and almost on the same street has angered owners of the previous company. After the trial, which Horch lost, the question arose about the new name. During discussion on this matter in the house of his friend, the owner's son, who studied Latin, just translated from the German Horch into Latin. Thus, the name Audi and, subsequently, the company Audi Automobilwerke GmbH.

Today the Familiar four ring AUDI appeared much later. Under the influence of the economic crisis of the early 30-ies of the four companies decided to unite in the same group as Auto Union AG. The Union entered Horch, Audi, Wanderer and DKW. An emblem of the four rings symbolised the merger of these four companies and had to attend all the car group. Horch and Audi were producing luxury vehicles, Wanderer – the middle class, DKW – the budget and economy cars. There is a misconception that the car "Horch" is the same as the Audi, just renamed over time. The fact that after a while, three of the four members of the group ceased to exist. It remains only Audi, which inherited the emblem.

Most popular models

The Most popular models "Horch" are considered to be cars with four cylinder engines of average capacity. Sales of cars with engines of larger displacement (sports, public) has always been lower for several reasons. With the exception of the steel models produced from 1937 to 1940 (851/853/853A/855/951/951A). It is these solid representation of the machine is remembered as the symbol of the brand "Horch". Car (photo 1939 located below proves it) looked great.

In Addition to the production of civilian passenger cars, the firm Horch had considerable experience in the production of military vehicles. One of the most famous is the average multi-purpose vehicle "Horch 901" terrain. This machine was produced from 1937 to 1940 by the target program of the Wehrmacht to equip the army with four-wheel drive cars of three types: light, medium and heavy.

Post-war decline of the company

Since the mid 30-ies of the management of the company by August Horham was of a formal nature. It is more and more engaged in social activities, has held several leadership positions. After the war, the Zwickau remained on the territory controlled by the Soviet Union. The enterprise was nationalized and became part of the IFA, although some time has produced cars under the name Horch, for example, an Executive model 930S.

Cars Horch in chronological order

Model number of civilian passenger cars over the years can be seen in the table below.

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