A new automotive design approach - Asardo AR-S 1500
09/24/2012
In 1959, the small company "Asardo" in North Bergn (New Jerseay) announced its self-developed sports car, the Asardo AR-S 1500, in a rather grandiose manner. "No other vehicle in the world offers a better combination of safety. performance and design at a comparable price," wrote the creators in their sales brochure. In fact, they had pulled out all the stops and developed a lightweight tubular frame, over which they placed a plastic shell with gullwing doors.
They borrowed the engine from Alfa Romeo, but modified it thoroughly and coaxed 135 hp at 6,800 rpm from the 1,490 cm3. The maximum speed was specified as 8,000 rpm. In any case, the engine should have had no trouble with the 612 kg of the ready-to-drive car and the 217 km/h top speed does not sound unrealistic either.
The small company in North Bergen wanted USD 5,875 for the little car, which was perhaps too much for the Americans.
Apparently, the small company built several engines, while the vehicle remained a one-off. This one has now reappeared, having apparently gone from California, where it was sold in the late nineties, to Belgium and is now for sale . According to the seller (in Germany), there is once again an Alfa Romeo engine in the vehicle, while in the USA a Buick V8 was partially installed. The car is currently in Spain.
You can marvel at the original sales brochure on Zwischengas. And whether you still see the vehicle today as a "timeless beauty" is up to you. In any case, the photos in the sales advertisement don't do the car much good.
