Anasagasti (Argentina)

Horacio Anasagasti & Cia. was an Argentine automobile manufacturer based in Buenos Aires, active from 1911 to 1915. Founded by engineer Horacio Anasagasti, the company initially proclaimed itself as a manufacturer of tractors and automobiles in 1909, despite not having produced any vehicles at that time. Anasagasti established connections with the Ballot brothers in Paris, who supplied several 12hp and 15hp engines along with wooden patterns for castings, which Anasagasti aimed to reproduce in Argentina.

The first prototype, equipped with a 12hp engine, was showcased during the Rosario-Cordoba-Rosario Rally on September 17, 1911, although it suffered mechanical issues and was abandoned during the event. Full-scale production of Anasagasti vehicles began in 1912, initially utilizing Ballot engines before transitioning to Picker-Janvier units. Anasagasti aspired to create a distinctly Argentine automobile, but faced challenges due to the limited mechanical expertise available in South America at the time.

In an effort to enhance the brand's reputation and sales, Anasagasti cars participated in European racing events, with advertisements highlighting their racing pedigree in the Argentine press during 1913 and 1914. However, sales remained modest, and the onset of World War I disrupted the supply of parts from France, leading to the cessation of production around mid-1915. Ultimately, the company produced approximately 30 vehicles, of which only two are known to survive today—one in private ownership and the other in the possession of the Argentine Air Force, gifted by Horacio Anasagasti himself.