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Ardie

Ardie history.

[img]Arno Dietrich started motorcycle production under the ARDIE trade name in Nürnberg in 1919 making a small two-stroke model of 288cc and later 304 cc capacity. Their first models had round and red gas tanks (to the left), so they were nicknamed "Minimaxes" after a fire extinguisher brand. Arno Dietrich lost his life on a test ride in 1922, and the works were taken over by the Bendit brothers of Fürth.

[img]In 1925 Ardie started to use JAP engines instead of its own power units, and these bikes were built on quite English styling lines. They created a line of racing machines, powered by 347, 498 and 990 V-2-ohv JAP enignes. Drivers like Georg Thumshirn or Darl Dobberkau were very successful with Ardie racers. In the 1930s Ardie, under pressure of Nazi authorities, switched again to engines made by the German company Bark and Kūchen, In 1930 or 31 Ardie introduced pressed duraluminium frames.

[img]In 1930, Ardie President Willy Bendit assigned Josef Ganz, a Jewish engineer from Frankfurt, to build a prototype of a small Volkswagen according to his design. This Ardie-Ganz prototype was finished in 1931 and achieved highly successful road-test results. The car featured a tubular chassis, mid-mounted engine, and independent wheel suspension with swing-axles at the rear. The car was named Maikäfer (May Bug). The Nazis overtook the concept of Ganz’s family car, and the contructor was arrested. He managed to survive, escaping from Germany. (To the left: Josel Ganz in Maikäfer prototype car)

[img]In 1936 the company returned to making motorcycles with two-stroke engines of its own manufacture. During the Second World War the company manufactured motorcycles for German army, including a model with Ardie's own design of 350cc twin-cylinder side-valve four-stroke engine. (To the left: Wehrmacht soldier on Ardie motorcycle.) After World War II the factory built motorcycles with their own cross-flow two-stroke engines designed by Dr. Noack: 124, 172, 194, 246 and 344 cc. The larger engines were two-cylinder parallel two-strokes. They used other manufacturers engines, too, e.g. Swedish Monark.

In the final years Ardie belonged to the Durkopp factory. The production was ended in 1958.