Neckar (car)

For other uses, see Neckar (disambiguation).

Neckar

Center
Industry	automotive
Fate	unknown
Successor	unknown
Founded	1957
Defunct	1971
Headquarters	Germany
Key people	Hans-Theodor Schütmann, founder
Products	Neckar Weinsberg, Neckar Jagst, Neckar Europa, Neckar Panorama, Neckar Adria, Neckar Mistral, Neckar Riviera
Parent	NSU

Neckar was a German automobile manufacturer which produced Fiat and Autobianchi vehicles under license in Heilbronn from 1957 to 1971.

History

NSU had sold its Heilbronn factory (near the river Neckar) in 1929 to Fiat due to the economic crisis. Fiat started to produce Fiat Topolinos and Balillas models under license in this factory under the brand NSU-Fiat. The same models were also produced under license in France by SIMCA-Fiat.

In 1957, NSU decided to restart the production of personal cars and asked this Fiat licensee to change its name; therefore NSU-Fiat became Neckar. Neckar was producing less than 25,000 vehicles a year, Fiat 500 (Neckar Weinsberg), 600 (Neckar Jagst) and 1100 (Neckar Europa) slightly modified, often more luxurious and sporty than the Fiats produced in Turin.

The launch of the Fiat 1500 in 1961 and of the Neckar Panorama (derived from the Autobianchi Bianchina) allowed Neckar to reach a yearly production of 50,000 units in 1962. A coupe derived from the 1500 and called the Neckar Mistral was designed. A coupe and a convertible based on the Fiat 600 was produced as the Neckar Riviera. The Fiat 850 (as the Neckar Adria) was the last model produced by Neckar.

The high cost of the German workforce (compared to the Italian one) doomed Neckar. Fiat refused to sell the license of the new Fiat 124, 125 and 128 to Neckar. Production of Neckar slowed down from 1963. 50,000 cars were produced in 1962, down to 44,000 units in 1963, 22,000 in 1964, 18,000 in 1967 and 12,000 in 1970. Neckar closed in 1971 having produced 370,000 cars in total.

Models

1959 Fiat 1100/Neckar Europa 4-Door Sedan

Fiat 600/Neckar Jagst

Model	Variant of
Neckar Weinsberg	Fiat 500
Neckar Jagst	Fiat 600
Neckar Europa	Fiat 1100
Neckar Panorama	Autobianchi Bianchina
Neckar Adria	Fiat 850
Neckar Mistral	Fiat 1300/1500
Neckar Riviera	Fiat 600

Bibliography

• Werner Oswald: Deutsche Autos Band 2 - 1920-1945. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-613-02170-6.
• Werner Oswald: Deutsche Autos 1945−1990, Band 4, 1. Auflage, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02131-5

See also

• List of automobile manufacturers
• Fiat
• NSU