Elizalde (Spain) - AllCarIndex

Elizalde was a Spanish automobile manufacturer that operated from 1913 to 1928. The company was founded by Arturo Elizalde, who had previously produced precision components since 1908 and served as the representative for Delahaye in Spain. His wife, Carmen Biada, played a significant role in the early development of railways in Catalonia. The company initially operated under the name Biada, Elizalde y Cia, which included the name of Elizalde's brothers-in-law, and presented its first prototype car, the Tipo 11, in 1913. Production commenced in 1914 with the Tipo 20, featuring a 4-cylinder engine that produced 15/20 horsepower.

In 1915, the company restructured and became known as Fábrica Española de Automóviles Elizalde. The departure of the Biada brothers that same year marked a turning point for the company. Elizalde introduced several notable models, including the Super 20 in 1919, which was designed as a competition car and featured advanced engineering such as four forward speeds and cantilever springing. The company also produced the 'Queen Victoria Eugenia' (RVE), a model with a 16/20 horsepower engine, and the Model 48, which was recognized as the largest car at the Paris Salon of 1921, equipped with an 8-cylinder engine that produced 160 horsepower.

Throughout its production years, Elizalde manufactured a variety of models, including the series 51, which consisted of several variants with different engine configurations and power outputs. These vehicles were also utilized as taxis. In 1927, plans were made to develop a new model called the APTA in collaboration with engineers Ricart and Espana. However, financial difficulties led to the cessation of car production in 1928, with approximately 650 vehicles produced in total. Following this period, the company shifted its focus to manufacturing aero-engines, achieving notable success until 1951, when it was acquired by the state-owned Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) and integrated into ENMASA, the former Mercedes-España.