Why Did Koç Holding Stop the Production of Anadol?

Anadol, which is referred to as ‘antique’ today but we once had the excitement of being Turkey’s domestic car, was launched 58 years ago. Our first serious contact with the automobile industry was the famous businessman. It started with Vehbi Koç.

In the 1960s, the imported vehicles were no longer sufficient and the need for an automobile in the country increased. It all started with Vehbi Koç acting in this direction. In 1966, Otosan company in Turkey, By making a licensing agreement with Ford Motor Company started automobile production. Thus, the foundations of Anadol, our country’s first domestic car, were laid. So why did its production stop?

Let’s take it from the beginning. In 1946, Ford’s representative in Türkiye was Vehbi Koç.

In 1928 with the company “Otokoç” Ford’s Türkiye distributorship is Vehbi Koç was taken by. In 1946, Ford’s representative in Türkiye was Vehbi Koç. On the other hand, Koç, who was positive about the idea of ​​producing domestic automobiles, wanted to start the story of the “Anadol” brand with the support of Ford.

In line with this decision, Koç’s automobile managers Bernar Nahum and Kenan İnalhad been in contact with Ford executives for a long time, but they did not get much results.

At this point, things changed with the intervention of the then Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. Menderes wrote a letter to Henry Ford’s grandson, Henry Ford II. opened its doors for cooperation. As a result, Otosan, which we all know, was founded in 1959 and the assembly of Ford brand trucks began. This development laid the foundations of the Anadol brand.

Anadol’s story is an important turning point in the development of Turkey’s automobile industry.

Thanks to Vehbi Koç’s vision and determination, important steps were taken for domestic automobile production in our country and the future of the sector was shaped. Dealing with economic difficulties will exceed the public’s budget, especially if costly materials are used, and It brought with it the difficulty of producing a car that could not withstand the competition.

But in 1963 Bernar Nahum and Rahmi KoçThings changed when they saw a car made using fiberglass.

Although fiberglass was not widely known and was a relatively unknown material in Turkey at that time, it was both cheap and proved the quality of the car body in which it was used. The model they saw was British-made, produced by the Reliant company. Sussita12/50 was. Thereupon, the British manufacturer was immediately contacted and technical support was provided on the production of fiberglass bodywork for Anadol.

In January 1966, the prototype Anadol, produced in England, arrived in Istanbul after a difficult journey.

Otosan company, British Reliant and Ogle Design It would carry out the production with the license it received from companies and provide the engine, transmission and chassis from Ford. The Mechanical Chemical Industry staff initially did not approve the model to be produced with a new production method due to the use of fiberglass. However, the technical team changed later and had to approve the project.

Among the conditions set for the project to continue: A price not exceeding 30 thousand liras and production in 10 months It was located.

So on December 19, 1966 Anadol, Turkey’s first domestic serial car, taken off the production line. The only thing missing now was that the car did not have a name. Vehbi Koç wanted the name of the car to be determined by the public, and thus the name “Anadol” emerged.

Although production started in 1966 Qualification certificate of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers of Türkiye And since the regulation process lasted until 1967, the sale of the car took place on February 28, 1967.

Various models such as A1, A2, A4 STC-16, A5 SV1600, A6 Böcek, A8-16 and A8-16SL were produced in our country.

Among these models, especially A1 modelIt had the distinction of being Turkey’s first domestic rally car. Likewise, the STC-16 model has an important place as another domestic model preferred by many rally pilots until the 1990s.

When Anadol was launched, it was criticized by some groups who acted ignorantly and opposed it at every opportunity. “Cows ate it, rats gnawed it at the mechanic; they couldn’t find the car in the morning.” Nonsense rumors like this were also spread. This rumor started in the 70s, when an Anadol approached a donkey cart while going downhill in Beşiktaş, and a photo of this situation was published in Hayat Magazine.

Fiberglass material, produced by American GM Corvette, British TVR, Lotus, Reliant, Marcos, Ginetta and was used on many other British cars. As can be seen, the animals in these countries did not cause any damage to these cars. These rumors damaged the model’s reputation a lot.

And when compared to American models of the period Anadol was despised by certain groups.

Production of the Anadol ended in 1984 with a total of 93,188 units.

All in all, Anadol had no disadvantages. However “We can’t do anything.” Our nation, oppressed by a feeling of pessimism such as, and perhaps the importers of the period who did not want the domestic automotive industry to develop, carried out an opposing campaign supported by big brands. However, there was always a base of users and fans who understood and loved this car.

Those who compare Anadol with giant American carsthey ignored that these vehicles are in different categories and how successful a small car can be.

Anadol has taken its place in the world classic car literature a long time ago. Of course, do not think that this situation prevented Aries from achieving his goal. The automobile industry in our country today Ford Otosan Gölcük Factory It has reached an important point with high production capacity facilities such as.

Even if Anadol’s production ends eventually automobile industry in Turkey It has made a great contribution to the development of the industry and has led the industry to its current state.

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