Puli (car)
Puli was a Hungarian microcar automobile brand, the first of the resident in Hódmezővásárhely agricultural machinery and automobile manufacturers Hódmezővásárhelyi Mezőgazdasági Gépgyártó és Szolgáltató Vállalat (literally Hódmezővásárhelyischer agricultural machinery manufacturer and service provider ) in 1986, shortly HODGEP, was marketed.
HODGEP built in 1974, various agricultural machinery, including plows, tractors, combine harvesters, finally in 1987 even the smallest cars.
The mid-1980s turned an import-export company called "Techno Impex ", like Hungary and the West did business between the COMECON countries to build on HODGEP with the proposal, a small city car. The management at HODGEP happy attacked the proposal, because the Hungarian economy was suffering at this time of shortage of foreign exchange, and they saw it as an opportunity to open up new markets for themselves. After the oil crisis of the late seventies microcars were in great demand, especially in countries such as France and Italy.
For 1986, the first designs were made for the new small car. It was initially called " Hungi " and " Pouli "; later " Puli " was it. In 1987, the first driveable prototype was available.
The Puli was 2460 mm long and was assembled from parts of Fiat Skoda, Lada and Polski, which were available in the country at that time. The car was powered by a diesel engine that (4.0 kW) made 6.4 hp. In the spring of 1988, in which took place the crucial run-up of series production, an attempt was made to systematically eradicate existing quality problems. Was the first prototype still a Yanmar diesel engine with 273 cubic centimeters built in, so this was later replaced by a diesel Lombardini. The body consisted of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Mainly he was thinking of exporting to France, where this category of automobiles is free of license. Some businessmen showed interest in the car, among other things, Jean Hardy, who bought a larger quantity, and Bruno Fridez, however the vehicles that he ordered, paid only in part.
HODGEP dealt mainly with the construction of agricultural machines, but did not survive the turn of Hungary to the market economy in the late 1980s. In the wake of the abolition of the planned economic framework of the COMECON countries, the company, which also HODGEP belonged to expose the forces of supply and demand in the following period had.
Beginning of 1991 was an electric car model under the name Fridez Penguin 4 It has come about electric cars by acquiring early Puli stocks followed by conversion. The limited small series production of the Penguin 4 is attributable to the business activity of the Swiss solar and electric car maker Bruno Fridez. However, this project did not last long, because the products produced did not meet the quality expectations of the time.
In this time of economic transformation in Hungary did not spare HODGEP stop: HODGEP was privatized. (: Puli vehicle and engine manufacturing Ltd.. Literally ) founded their CEO Alexander was Pikali In the course of privatization was in the spring of 1991, the Puli Jármű és Gépgyártó Kft. Since Pikali, was unhappy with the business conditions, what the Puli were concerned, he decided to break with Hardy and Fridez and their own way to go. The Puli produced by the newly founded company 2 E (internal designation Type: Puli 107E ) was a further development of that Puli, as he was known by HODGEP ago. A complete revision of the entire drive train illustrates this. It is a construction in which a 7.4 - kW electric motor (more precisely, a DC machine in series circuit circuit ) with a subsequent reduction gearbox with differential and 10 volt lead-acid batteries of 6 were used. The resulting Puli reached a range of 30-100 km and a top speed of 60-70 km / h On the chassis could be mounted on it, the body styles " convertible", " hatchback wagon" and "Transporter". The price in Germany amounted to DM 20,700, -.
The Puli Jármű és Gépgyártó Kft based on corporate assets is equal to the time 340 million forints which was caused by HODGEP. When financing for the realization of Pikalis business plans, it was assumed, wealthy foreign automotive companies would come and take Puli Jármű és Gépgyártó Kft and invest in it. But this did not so. And so the loans burdened the company on the debit side strong in relation to the revenues generated. When the lender in 1992 realized that things did not run as smoothly as planned, they applied for bankruptcy protection. During the bankruptcy proceedings Pikali one hand, tried to restructure the company and to evade the protection of creditors, on the other hand, the lender to use and more sedate. Thus the insolvency proceedings drew nearly five years to come ( 1992-1996 ). During this time, Puli were 2 electric vehicles exported include Germany, France and Switzerland. But at the end of 1996, the lenders could eventually prevail liquidation.
How many vehicles were manufactured in total, is unclear.
2006, the Puli came back under the new company owner Henrik Harasta. Harasta are the trademarks Puli and Wartburg.