Elite Enterprises

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elite Enterprises Inc.
legal form Inc.
founding 1969
resolution 1991
Reason for dissolution Death of the owner
Seat Cokato , Minnesota , USA
management Gerry Knapp
Branch Automobiles

Elite Enterprises Inc. was an American manufacturer of automobiles .

Company history

Gerry Knapp founded the company on November 14, 1969 in Cokato , Minnesota . He started producing automobiles and kit cars in 1971 . The brand name was Elite . In 1982 the name Allard was protected. Later that year, an agreement was reached with Chrysler that would allow Chrysler to use the laser name for its Chrysler Laser model . Production ended in 1985 or 1986. Knapp died in 1986. Quint Industries took over several models and Hardy Motors another model. On October 7, 1991 the company was dissolved.

vehicles

The Laser GT was a coupe on a shortened chassis from the VW Beetle .

The Laser 917 was inspired by the Porsche 917 and was also based on a VW chassis. Various engines from Mazda and Porsche , the Chevrolet Corvair and V6 engines from General Motors powered the vehicles. According to the company, 679 vehicles of this type were built between 1972 and 1982.

The replica of an Allard J2X had its own frame, which was designed to accommodate both V8 front engines and VW rear engines. A 1985 vehicle sold for $ 12,500 in 2016 .

The Mini-18 was a utility vehicle and the Laser '49 a minivan , both VW-based.

An advertisement has been handed down for a VW buggy called Laser Dunebuggy .

In addition, racing cars were created for Formula Vee .

literature

  • Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The International Automobile Encyclopedia . United Soft Media Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8 , Chapter Elite (III).
  • George Nick Georgano (Editor-in-Chief): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 1: A – F. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1 , p. 492. (English)
  • James M. Flammang: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1986. Krause Publications, Iola 1988, ISBN 0-87341-113-7 , p. 423. (English)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The International Automobile Encyclopedia . United Soft Media Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8 , Chapter Elite (III).
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k George Nick Georgano (Editor-in-Chief): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1 , p. 492. (English)
  3. ↑ a b opencorporates (English, accessed on February 18, 2017)
  4. ^ Allard Trademark Information (accessed February 18, 2017)
  5. ↑ a b The Story of Elite Enterprises (accessed February 18, 2017)
  6. ↑ a b James M. Flammang: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976–1986. Krause Publications, Iola 1988, ISBN 0-87341-113-7 , p. 423. (English)
  7. ↑ Auction 2016 (accessed February 18, 2017)
  8. ↑ Advertisement for the Laser Dunebuggy (English, accessed on February 18, 2017)