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Namco (automobiles)

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376: 66: 472:. The Pony (also called Pony-Citroën), helped by a law giving tax breaks for light utility-passenger vehicles, became an instant success, being the cheapest car in the market and, at the same time, an incredibly robust and practical automobile; about half a dozen Greek companies would follow NAMCO's example, with similar contraptions, none of which, though, came close to Pony's success. The car was greatly modernized (including 501: 958: 198: 136: 25: 485: 493: 468:(the Pony and other similar cars preceded the FAF and were not derived from it, as is often erroneously reported). Indeed, cars on the same basis were produced around the world from Vietnam to Portugal, but the Pony became by far the most successful. In 1974, NAMCO started business officially and production started in a new plant in 590:
NAMCO is still alive today, although a shadow of its former self. Production of the Pony Super and the trucks never "officially" ended, as the company maintains a factory able to resume production. Actually, a "third-generation" Pony (in reality a Pony Super with minor improvements) was introduced in
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Once more, though, the company created one more chance for rebirth, as its founders were stubbornly attached to the car-making business. So, although they also diversified into imports and trade of vehicles keeping NAMCO alive, they transformed the company into a technology exporter, offering design
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at a rate of 20,000 per year. However, the costs and prospects proved to be grossly miscalculated and the plan was abandoned. No matter how improved the new Pony was, it was still a far cry from the needs of the contemporary Greek market made of progressively more affluent and demanding consumers.
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components) and a large number of versions and facelifts followed, keeping it up to standards. A production number of 30,000 Pony's has often been cited, but it most probably included similar vehicles produced in other countries; a more accurate number of cars produced in Greece should be close to
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engine but the vehicle was not put into production. In 1967, production of the FARMOBIL ended and Chrysler Hellas S.A. focused on importing vehicles from Chrysler's American and European subsidiaries. Despite all this, Chrysler retained the relationship with the Kontogouris brothers until the late
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and construction of vehicle producing miniplants (as an antidote, they argued, to the giant conglomerates created by globalism) together with the Pony and their 4x4 truck technology. In 1994, the first Pony Supers produced under license in Bulgaria came out of the assembly plant in that country.
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The first generation Pony (Pony-Citroën) was produced until 1983; in the meanwhile, the law concerning taxation of similar vehicles had been modified. Plans to manufacture other cars under license were not realized and for a moment it seemed that NAMCO would once more be out of business. But the
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The company had announced plans to restart production in 2015, introducing a "new generation Pony". The new Pony was to be powered either by a PCM (Peugeot-Citroën Moteurs) or FIAT (1360 cc) engine, and retained the main body design of the previous generation Pony. The company had made several
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in Germany. In 1957, they acquired rights to the production technology of a multi-purpose vehicle developed by Swiss engineer Dr. Wilfried Fahr. In 1961, Kontogouris (Gerasimos, Dimitrios, Leonidas, Petros, Victor-Georgios, and Konstantinos) created their first company (FARCO) in
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engines, coming in a number of versions (950 cc 45 hp (34 kW), 1100 cc 55 hp (41 kW), 1300 cc 69 hp (51 kW) and 1600 cc 54 hp (40 kW) diesel, in two- and four-door arrangements). It was essentially developed by NAMCO, since
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engine, that they named the FARMOBIL. Ironically, this vehicle was not certified for sale in the Greek market, and nearly all of the vehicles made were exported to several countries around the world. In 1963, the company was acquired by
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announcements, including claims about discussions with companies in Asia, Africa, and South America who had expressed interest in license production of the new model. However, none of the above has been materialized to date.
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17,000 units. Following its success in the Greek market, the company made significant exports to many countries around the world (a few were even exported to the U.S.), undoubtedly "helped" by the
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armored vehicles and 4x4's, some of which did not even reach the stage of complete prototype. It has been argued that it was simply the wrong time, since the Greek state favored a state company (
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In 1978, NAMCO decided to move into other fields, introducing a series of very advanced 4x4 and 6x6 (3 to 6.5 tonne) multi-purpose trucks featuring a novel Swiss-designed, patented
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and renamed as Chrysler Hellas S.A. - By 1965 (other sources state 1966), Chrysler was planning to produce a version of the Greek vehicle in the United Kingdom via the
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series, completely redesigned passenger-utility automobile, 1985-(theoretically to date): built in a large number of variants and models with different engines.
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2003 but never produced. Company focus, nonetheless, as was the case with many similar Greek companies, has decisively shifted towards trade and services.
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1970s. Meanwhile, in 1961 ambitious plans were made by the Kontogouris brothers for a new company (to be called NAMCO) with a new factory in
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vehicles. It is somewhat of a mystery why those advanced vehicles had limited success, with only small numbers ordered by
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L.S. Skartsis, "Greek Vehicle & Machine Manufacturers 1800 to present: A Pictorial History", Marathon (2012)
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licence), 1974-1983: produced in a large number of variants and several facelifts and improvements.
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The first efforts of the Kontogouris brothers involved attempts to build a light truck called
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company, in which they had acquired a 30% stake in 1964. One prototype was built with a
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armored wheeled military vehicle, proposed 1982: designed, but prototype not completed.
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licence), 1961: production planned to have started by mid-1960s but not materialized.
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authorities. Similarly, NAMCO designed a number of military vehicles including the
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NAMCO would resurface in 1972, when a light passenger-utility vehicle called the
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This article is about the Greek manufacturer. For all other uses, see
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4x4 jeep-type military vehicle, proposed 1985: design not completed.
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advanced multi-purpose vehicle (designed by Dr. W. Fahr), 1961-1967.
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system. A complete lineup was made for many uses, consisting of the
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light military 4x4 vehicle, introduced 1980 (similar to the French
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company would bounce back, introducing a completely new model, the
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platform, had been adopted by Citroën itself as part of "basic
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Early 1960s report about export of Greek Farmobils to the U.S.
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agricultural 4x4 and 6x6 truck, 1978-(theoretically to date).
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but actually a different design): only 2 were produced.
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Only a few hundred Pony Super's were built until 1992.
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Skartsis and G.A. Avramidis, 724:Wildcat, proposed 1985: not built. 448:. The car, whose original design ( 14: 776:Military Vehicles & Logistics 636:Company: NAMCO (proper operation) 34:This article has multiple issues. 956: 196: 134: 64: 23: 1307:Athens International Motor Show 684:, 1978-(theoretically to date). 674:, 1978-(theoretically to date). 664:, 1978-(theoretically to date). 488:NAMCO Pony-Citroën (1975 model) 442:Thessaloniki International Fair 42:or discuss these issues on the 1252:Biotechnia Ellinikon Trikyklon 1: 1368:Cars powered by boxer engines 1353:Truck manufacturers of Greece 962:Automotive industry in Greece 16:Greek automobile manufacturer 1083:Autokinitoviomihania Ellados 873:Alloush, Abed (2014-01-02). 1247:Motorcycles/three-wheelers: 317:Petros-Tzanetos Kontogouris 160:the claims made and adding 1389: 261: 223:Such statements should be 967: 720:Licence built variant of 274: 496:NAMCO Milicar 6x6 (1978) 73:This article includes a 102:more precise citations. 1332:Greek economic miracle 1140:Buses/tractors/trucks: 823:"1965 Rootes Farmobil" 627:Three-wheeler truck, ( 508: 497: 489: 440:was introduced in the 380: 264:Namco (disambiguation) 1327:Hellenic Motor Museum 503: 495: 487: 481:logo on the vehicle. 378: 315:Gerasimos Kontogouris 1103:Emporiki Autokiniton 507:(4-door, 1986 model) 225:clarified or removed 982:Transport in Greece 972:Automotive industry 271: 1220:Pantelemidis-TITAN 1017:Korres Engineering 852:Citroën statistics 509: 498: 490: 381: 321:Victor Kontogouris 319:Kostas Kontogouris 145:possibly contains 75:list of references 1358:Off-road vehicles 1340: 1339: 1295: 1294: 977:Economy of Greece 769:978-960-93-4452-4 379:1965 Farmobil 700 362: 361: 260: 259: 252: 242: 241: 190: 189: 182: 147:original research 128: 127: 120: 57: 1380: 1185:Bouhagier Patras 1042:Sfakianakis S.A. 997: 961: 960: 949: 942: 935: 926: 889: 888: 886: 885: 870: 864: 863: 861: 859: 844: 838: 837: 835: 833: 819: 813: 812: 810: 808: 793: 505:Namco Pony Super 358: 355: 353: 279: 272: 255: 248: 237: 234: 228: 200: 199: 192: 185: 178: 174: 171: 165: 162:inline citations 138: 137: 130: 123: 116: 112: 109: 103: 98:this article by 89:inline citations 68: 67: 60: 49: 27: 26: 19: 1388: 1387: 1383: 1382: 1381: 1379: 1378: 1377: 1343: 1342: 1341: 1336: 1322:UoP Racing team 1317:Acropolis Rally 1291: 1061: 1032:Replicar Hellas 986: 963: 955: 953: 898: 893: 892: 883: 881: 872: 871: 867: 857: 855: 854:. Citroenet.org 846: 845: 841: 831: 829: 821: 820: 816: 806: 804: 795: 794: 790: 785: 778:, 1992 edition. 751: 739: 638: 624: 611: 606: 597: 434: 373: 350: 320: 318: 316: 267: 256: 245: 244: 243: 238: 232: 229: 222: 201: 197: 186: 175: 169: 166: 151: 139: 135: 124: 113: 107: 104: 93: 79:related reading 69: 65: 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1386: 1384: 1376: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1345: 1344: 1338: 1337: 1335: 1334: 1329: 1324: 1319: 1314: 1309: 1303: 1301: 1300:Related topics 1297: 1296: 1293: 1292: 1290: 1289: 1284: 1279: 1274: 1269: 1264: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1243: 1242: 1237: 1232: 1227: 1222: 1217: 1212: 1207: 1202: 1197: 1192: 1187: 1182: 1177: 1172: 1167: 1162: 1157: 1152: 1147: 1142: 1136: 1135: 1130: 1125: 1120: 1115: 1110: 1105: 1100: 1095: 1090: 1085: 1080: 1075: 1069: 1067: 1066:Former/Defunct 1063: 1062: 1060: 1059: 1054: 1049: 1044: 1039: 1034: 1029: 1024: 1019: 1014: 1009: 1003: 1001: 994: 988: 987: 985: 984: 979: 974: 968: 965: 964: 954: 952: 951: 944: 937: 929: 923: 922: 917: 904: 897: 896:External links 894: 891: 890: 879:Greek Reporter 865: 839: 814: 787: 786: 784: 781: 780: 779: 772: 759: 756:Made in Greece 750: 747: 746: 745: 738: 735: 734: 733: 725: 718: 715: 705: 697: 685: 675: 665: 655: 649: 637: 634: 633: 632: 623: 620: 619: 618: 610: 609:Company: Farco 607: 605: 602: 596: 593: 433: 430: 372: 369: 360: 359: 348: 344: 343: 338: 334: 333: 327: 323: 322: 313: 309: 308: 305: 301: 300: 295: 291: 290: 285: 281: 280: 258: 257: 240: 239: 233:September 2015 204: 202: 195: 188: 187: 170:September 2015 142: 140: 133: 126: 125: 83:external links 72: 70: 63: 58: 32: 31: 29: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1385: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1366: 1364: 1361: 1359: 1356: 1354: 1351: 1350: 1348: 1333: 1330: 1328: 1325: 1323: 1320: 1318: 1315: 1313: 1310: 1308: 1305: 1304: 1302: 1298: 1288: 1285: 1283: 1280: 1278: 1275: 1273: 1270: 1268: 1265: 1263: 1260: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1244: 1241: 1238: 1236: 1233: 1231: 1228: 1226: 1223: 1221: 1218: 1216: 1213: 1211: 1208: 1206: 1203: 1201: 1198: 1196: 1193: 1191: 1188: 1186: 1183: 1181: 1178: 1176: 1173: 1171: 1168: 1166: 1163: 1161: 1158: 1156: 1153: 1151: 1148: 1146: 1143: 1141: 1138: 1137: 1134: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1124: 1121: 1119: 1116: 1114: 1111: 1109: 1106: 1104: 1101: 1099: 1096: 1094: 1091: 1089: 1088:Automeccanica 1086: 1084: 1081: 1079: 1076: 1074: 1071: 1070: 1068: 1064: 1058: 1055: 1053: 1050: 1048: 1045: 1043: 1040: 1038: 1035: 1033: 1030: 1028: 1025: 1023: 1020: 1018: 1015: 1013: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1004: 1002: 998: 995: 993: 989: 983: 980: 978: 975: 973: 970: 969: 966: 959: 950: 945: 943: 938: 936: 931: 930: 927: 921: 918: 916: 914: 910: 905: 903: 902:NAMCO website 900: 899: 895: 880: 876: 869: 866: 853: 849: 843: 840: 828: 824: 818: 815: 803:. 6 June 2022 802: 798: 792: 789: 782: 777: 773: 770: 766: 763: 760: 757: 753: 752: 748: 744: 741: 740: 737:Related entry 736: 731: 730: 726: 723: 719: 716: 713: 709: 706: 703: 702: 698: 695: 694: 689: 686: 683: 679: 676: 673: 669: 666: 663: 659: 656: 653: 650: 647: 643: 640: 639: 635: 630: 626: 625: 621: 616: 613: 612: 608: 603: 601: 594: 592: 588: 584: 581: 577: 572: 568: 564: 563: 556: 554: 550: 546: 542: 538: 534: 530: 526: 522: 518: 514: 506: 502: 494: 486: 482: 480: 475: 471: 467: 463: 459: 455: 454:Côte d'Ivoire 451: 447: 443: 439: 431: 429: 427: 424: 423:three-wheeler 420: 416: 411: 407: 403: 398: 395: 391: 386: 377: 370: 368: 366: 357: 349: 345: 342: 339: 335: 331: 328: 324: 314: 310: 306: 302: 299: 296: 292: 289: 286: 282: 278: 273: 265: 254: 251: 236: 226: 220: 218: 214: 210: 205:This article 203: 194: 193: 184: 181: 173: 163: 159: 155: 149: 148: 143:This article 141: 132: 131: 122: 119: 111: 108:February 2024 101: 97: 91: 90: 84: 80: 76: 71: 62: 61: 56: 54: 47: 46: 41: 40: 35: 30: 21: 20: 1363:Greek brands 1246: 1139: 1108:MAVA-Renault 1026: 912: 908: 882:. 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Namco (disambiguation)

Corporation
Automotive
Thessaloniki
Automobiles
namco.gr/en

Thessaloniki
BMW 700

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