Castro (Spain) - AllCarIndex

Castro was a Spanish automobile manufacturer active from 1901 to 1904, based in Barcelona. The company was founded by Juan Castro, who took over the production of the existing La Cuadra 2-cylinder chain-driven cars after the failure of the 1-A Cuadra company, where he had been a creditor. Recognizing the potential of the motorcar, Castro aimed to innovate and improve the existing designs.

Under the guidance of Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt, Castro introduced more advanced vehicles, including a 10 horsepower 2-cylinder engine model and a 14 horsepower T-head 4-cylinder shaft-driven car in 1903. Despite these advancements, the company faced financial difficulties, leading to its takeover in June 1904 by a group of businessmen led by Damien Mateu.

Mateu recognized the value of Birkigt's expertise and retained him as the chief designer for the newly formed company, which was renamed La Hispano-Suiza Fabrica de Automoviles. This new entity would go on to produce the well-known Hispano-Suiza automobiles, marking a significant transition from the original Castro brand to a more prominent name in the automotive industry.