Solana (automobile)

Last updated
Solana
Company type Private
Industry Design
Automotive
Founded1936;88 years ago (1936)
Headquarters Mexico City, Mexico
Key people
Joaquín Solana
Products Automobiles
Website Solana Sports Cars
1996 Solana Sport Series II SOLANA 1996.jpg
1996 Solana Sport Series II

Solana is a Mexican cottage manufacturer of sports, racing, and kids' automobiles based in Mexico City. The family run company has operated since 1936, with a total production of fewer than fifty cars; the majority of them one-offs. The family is heavily involved in motor sports; the most prominent member was Moisés Solana, who raced family-built cars and later in Formula One.

Contents

History

Operating since 1936, the company had built a total of forty-two cars until 2003. [1] Many of the early cars were actually meant for children, using small single-cylinder engines. Others were single-seater racing specials. The Deportivo Series II has been available since 1998, after having first been shown at a concours in Huixquilucan (Dos Ríos), in May 1996. This car, built on a tubular space frame, utilizes a 1.8 litre Datsun engine. It was built by Joaquín and Javier Solana and inspired by a 1954 special built by Javier for the Carrera Panamericana. [2] The carburetted engine only has 60 hp (45 kW), which is supposedly enough for a 195 km/h (121 mph) top speed. [3]

Solana's logo is a circled "S" with a squared segment on top, containing the "Solana" name. It is colored black and gold. Some cars have a round logo with an "S" in it instead.

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References

  1. Mazur, Eligiusz, ed. (2006). World of Cars 2006·2007. Warsaw, Poland: Media Connection Sp. z o.o. p. 208. ISSN   1734-2945.
  2. Solana, Joaquín (1997). "Construcción Auto Solana 1996" [Construction of the 1996 Solana automobile] (in Spanish). Solana Sports Cars. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  3. Samperio, Gilberto (February 1997). "Solana Sport Serie II: Tradición familiar" [Family tradition]. Automóvil Panamericano (in Spanish): 61.