ASARDO / USA

 ASARDO / USA  (1958 - 1959)

The Asardo Company was founded in 1958 and between 1959 and 1960 attempted to market a sports car called the Asardo 1500 AR-S in the United States. The prototype was built in 1959 by the American Special Automotive Research and Design Organization  (= ASARDO) .

The Asardo 1500 AR-S was an aerodynamic sports coupe, with gull-wing doors, powered by a 1485cc Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 4-cylinder engine, developing 130 hp. The 4-speed transmission was also Alfa Romeo, as was the rear suspension. The body, made of fiberglass, was mounted on a special very light tubular chassis type space frame. The Asardo 1500 AR-S was capable of a top speed of 215 km/h  and reached 100 km/h from a standing start in 6.4 seconds.

The high price prevented a series producton.

It is known that the only existing prototype was later equipped with a 3528cc Buick V8 engine. Today this car is owned by a Spanish collector. In 2006 it was stolen from a garage in La Rioja and later recovered by the Guardia Civil.

I was told that the emblem was made at that time by the most famous specialist in car emblems, Harry Pulfer. Actually, he was engaged in historical emblems. This emblem would be his only contemporary one. For more information about Harry Pulfer click here.

Size	9.8 cm x 5.6 cm
Year	1958 - 1959
Estimate

backside without makers mark ( emblems by Harry Pulfer were made in Hong Kong )

 

In recent photos you can see an emblem on the front of the hood and one on the rear. However, the latter is unprofessionally attached with a screw. I suspect that the car had only one emblem on the hood at that time.

1959 advertisment

For more emblems see older posts or top right ( list of carmakers ).

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