Asardo

Asardo was a short-lived American sports-car project and marque associated with Austrian-born mechanical engineer Helmut Schlosser. The name was formed from the initials of American Special Automotive Research and Design Organization. Schlosser developed the concept while managing a machine shop in North Bergen, New Jersey, and construction of the prototype began in 1958 after he had completed the design during the preceding year. The project reflected the period's enthusiasm for small, technically ambitious American sports cars that combined imported European components with locally engineered bodies and drivetrains. The first and only known Asardo was the 1500 AR-S, a compact fiberglass berlinetta with a highly individual appearance. Its front treatment was compared with the Maserati 300S, while the rear suggested contemporary Ferrari forms. Gullwing doors, using Mercedes-Benz 300SL hardware, gave the car an especially distinctive profile. The prototype incorporated parts from several established manufacturers, including a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia windshield and dashboard, Porsche Speedster seats, Alfa Romeo Giulietta suspension and drivetrain components, Lucas electrical equipment, Koni dampers, Borrani wire wheels, and Girling and Alfa Romeo braking components. This mixture of parts was characteristic of low-volume specialist-car construction, where a designer could assemble proven components into a new chassis and body without developing every system from scratch. Power came initially from a heavily modified Alfa Romeo twin-cam four-cylinder engine. The Giulietta-based unit was enlarged to approximately 1.5 litres through a larger bore, custom pistons, and Mahle wet liners. With a high compression ratio and twin Weber carburetors, the engine was estimated to produce about 135 horsepower. A four-speed Alfa Romeo manual gearbox drove the rear axle. Testing at Lime Rock, with racing driver Dolph Vilardi, produced a reported lap time of 1 minute 16 seconds despite a lean mixture and the engine being used at only about three-quarter throttle. The prototype's estimated maximum speed was approximately 135 mph. Asardo made its public debut at the 1959 New York auto show. A production price was announced and a proposed New Jersey facility was expected to build two cars per month, but series production never materialized. A disagreement between Schlosser and his financial backers ended the initial commercial effort. The backers favored selling partially completed cars so buyers could select their own engines, whereas Schlosser wanted complete cars fitted with the Alfa Romeo engine. After the partnership ended, Schlosser spent much of 1960 seeking replacement financing in Europe without success. Late in 1960, Schlosser found new interest from former New York Giants player, automobile dealer, and racing driver Charlie Kolb, working with Florida Volkswagen and Porsche dealer Overkey Motors. The prototype was redesigned to accommodate the Buick 215 aluminum V8 then being developed by General Motors. The revised car retained the fiberglass body, received a larger chassis arrangement, and used a Corvette transmission. It was renamed the Asardo 3500 GM-S. Schlosser had designed an independent rear suspension for the updated car, but the available prototype continued to use the Alfa-based differential and related rear arrangement. The Asardo competed in regional events during 1959, with Vilardi recording third place in the Montgomery preliminary and fourth at the Lime Rock preliminary. Kolb later made additional track appearances. The sole car subsequently passed through the hands of collectors in the United States, Japan, Germany, and Spain. Its powertrain also changed over time: the Buick V8 was replaced by a 1.6-litre Alfa Romeo engine, while the original 1.5-litre engine reportedly spent years behind an Alfa Romeo dealer in California before being sold. Asardo therefore survives primarily as a historically notable prototype rather than as an operating automobile company or continuing production brand.

Asardo originated in the late 1950s as the personal engineering project of Helmut Schlosser, an Austrian-born mechanical engineer who had emigrated to the United States. While managing a machine shop in North Bergen, New Jersey, Schlosser developed a sports-car design influenced by his interest in European competition and road cars. He had owned a Siata fitted with a Stanguellini engine, and his Asardo concept was intended to combine a light, aerodynamic body with readily serviceable components from established manufacturers. The design was substantially complete by 1957 and construction began in 1958. The resulting Asardo 1500 AR-S used a compact tubular space-frame chassis and a curving fiberglass berlinetta body. Its styling incorporated several recognizable visual references without being a direct copy of any one car: the front recalled the Maserati 300S, the rear evoked Ferrari sports cars, and the gullwing doors suggested the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. The doors used Mercedes hinges and latches adapted with a custom support arrangement. The car also demonstrated the practical parts-sharing typical of specialist prototypes. Its windshield and dashboard came from a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, its seats from a Porsche Speedster, and much of its suspension, steering, braking, and rear-axle hardware from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Schlosser modified an Alfa Romeo twin-cam four-cylinder engine for the prototype. Enlarged to roughly 1.5 litres with custom internal components and fitted with twin Weber carburetors, the engine was estimated to deliver approximately 135 horsepower. The power unit drove through an Alfa Romeo four-speed manual transmission. Testing at Lime Rock by Dolph Vilardi suggested competitive performance for the period, although the engine was reportedly running lean and was not used at full throttle. Vilardi later entered the car in regional events, earning third place at the Montgomery preliminary on August 8, 1959, and fourth at the Lime Rock preliminary on October 17. The car's formal public debut came at the 1959 New York auto show. Schlosser and his backers presented it as a possible low-volume production sports car, with a proposed New Jersey facility expected to build two cars monthly. The commercial plan failed before production could begin. The investors preferred a partially completed-car business model that would let customers choose engines, while Schlosser insisted that the vehicle should be delivered complete with its Alfa Romeo powerplant. The disagreement ended the relationship, and Schlosser went to Europe in an unsuccessful search for new financing. Late in 1960, former New York Giants player, automobile dealer, and racing driver Charlie Kolb, together with Florida Volkswagen and Porsche dealer Overkey Motors, helped revive the project. Schlosser redesigned the chassis to accept the Buick 215 aluminum V8 then under development by General Motors. The revised prototype retained its existing body but became the Asardo 3500 GM-S, with a 3,524 cc Buick engine and Corvette transmission. Although Schlosser had designed an independent rear suspension, the prototype continued to use the Alfa-derived differential and rear suspension arrangement because the new system was not completed. The car made later track appearances with Kolb, but no production series followed. In subsequent years the sole known Asardo moved among collectors in the United States, Japan, Germany, and Spain. Its mechanical specification changed as well, including replacement of the Buick V8 by a 1.6-litre Alfa Romeo engine. The original 1.5-litre engine reportedly remained behind an Alfa Romeo dealer in California for an extended period before being sold. Asardo has also appeared in discussion of Alfa Romeo design history. A 2002 book by Philippe Olczyk argued that the car strongly influenced the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ and could be regarded as an unofficial early TZ prototype. Motoring writers and Alfa Romeo enthusiasts disputed that interpretation, emphasizing differences between the two designs. The claim remains an interesting but contested part of the Asardo story. Today, Asardo is best understood as a one-off American sports-car prototype and an example of the ambitious but often commercially unsuccessful specialist-car projects of the postwar era.

• 2002

  Influence on Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ debated

  [1]Asardoen.wikipedia.org

  A book proposed a strong connection between Asardo and the Giulia TZ, prompting skepticism from parts of the motoring press and Alfa Romeo community.

• 1960

  V8 redesign produces the 3500 GM-S

  [1]Asardoen.wikipedia.org

  The chassis was modified for the Buick 215 V8, creating the Asardo 3500 GM-S.

• 1959

  Asardo 1500 AR-S unveiled

  [1]Asardoen.wikipedia.org

  The prototype debuted at the New York auto show and was presented as a possible low-volume production sports car.

• 1959

  First regional racing results

  [1]Asardoen.wikipedia.org

  Dolph Vilardi recorded third and fourth places in preliminary events at Montgomery and Lime Rock.

• 1958

  Prototype construction begins

  [1]Asardoen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the first Asardo began in Schlosser's New Jersey environment.

• 1957

  Asardo design completed

  [1]Asardoen.wikipedia.org

  Helmut Schlosser completed the basic design for the sports car that would become the Asardo.

A technically ambitious, low-volume American specialist sports-car project combining European components, bespoke engineering, and competition-oriented performance.

• Sports-car prototype · 1959

  Asardo 1500 AR-S

  The original Asardo was a one-off fiberglass berlinetta built on a multi-tubular space frame. It used gullwing doors, a modified Alfa Romeo twin-cam four-cylinder engine enlarged to approximately 1.5 litres, twin Weber carburetors, an Alfa Romeo four-speed gearbox, and extensive suspension and braking components from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Its estimated output was about 135 horsepower, with a reported estimated top speed of roughly 135 mph.

• V8 sports-car prototype · 1960

  Asardo 3500 GM-S

  The 3500 GM-S was the redesigned version of the original prototype. Its chassis was altered to accept the 3,524 cc Buick 215 aluminum V8, and power was transmitted through a Corvette gearbox. The original body was retained, while the planned independent rear suspension was not installed; the car continued to use the Alfa-derived rear differential arrangement.

• 1960

  Conversion to Buick V8 powerGeneration change

  Background

  After seeking new financing, Schlosser received support from Charlie Kolb and Overkey Motors to adapt the prototype to a larger American engine.

  Action taken

  The chassis was redesigned for the Buick 215 aluminum V8, a Corvette transmission was installed, and the vehicle was renamed the Asardo 3500 GM-S.

  Aftermath

  The revised car made later track appearances, but the project still did not enter series production.

  Source

• 1959

  Dispute over the production and sales modelStrategy

  Background

  After the New York auto-show debut, the financial backers and Helmut Schlosser disagreed about how the proposed sports car should reach customers.

  Action taken

  The backers favored partially completed cars with customer-selected engines, while Schlosser supported selling complete cars equipped with the Alfa Romeo engine.

  Aftermath

  The disagreement ended the initial financing relationship, and planned series production did not begin.

  Source

1. 1Asardoen.wikipedia.org