Unic 782271 210829935 2008-05-07T16:05:21Z 62.42.232.175 {{confused|Eunuch}}{{Otheruses}} '''Unic''' was a French car manufacturer firm founded by [[Georges Richard]] in [[1906]] after having left [[Richard-Brasier]]. Société anonyme des automobiles UNIC was established in [[Puteaux]] with two-cylinder and four-cylinder models. The 1943 cm³ 12 [[horsepower#CV|CV]] (9 kW) four-cylinder model (used mainly as a taxi) was extremely successful and survived in production for nearly 20 years. (The engine was enlarged later to 2120 cm³.) During [[World War I]], taxis made by the company participated in [[Marne]] operation. After WW I, a new four-cylinder (1847 cm³) was offered, along with the taxis. Truck production started in that era. During the 1920's, a 1997cc sports model was marketed and in some models [[sleeve valve]] engines were used. Georges Richard died in [[1922]]. In the 1930's, there were two eight-cylinder models. Passenger car production ceased in [[1938]], and from then on Unic concentrated in the truck bussiness, being one of the leading French makes. In 1966 it was taken over by Italian [[Fiat]] and eventually merged into [[Iveco]] in 1975. ==History== In [[1952]], the firm was taken over by [[Simca]], headed by [[Henri Pigozzi]], who wanted a commercial vehicle production unit. Trucks of this period are commonly referred to as [[Unic-Simca]] trucks. In [[1956]] the French arm of the Swiss truck manufacturer [[Saurer]] was taken over. In [[1966]] Unic joined the [[Fiat]] Group. In [[1975]] a holding company named [[IVECO]] was established covering truck and bus brands such as [[Fiat]], [[Officine Meccaniche|OM]], [[Lancia]], UNIC and [[Magirus]]. In [[1976]] UNIC-FIAT S.A. became UNIC S.A.. In [[1992]] IVECO UNIC S.A. changed its name to IVECO FRANCE S.A.. In [[2003]], the company's headquarters moved from [[Villejuif]] to [[Boissy St Léger]], where a second facility was established in [[1995]]. ==External links== *http://perso.wanadoo.fr/vis/historique.htm [[Category:Car manufacturers]] [[Category:Iveco]] [[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of France]] {{France-company-stub}} [[de:UNIC]] [[fr:UNIC]] [[it:Unic]] [[ja:ユニック]] [[no:UNIC]] [[sv:UNIC]]