Fabbrica Ligure Automobili Genova, F.L.A.G., FLAG, was an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1905 by investors in La Spezia, Liguria, that produced large, prestigious, luxury vehicles. Shortly after founding it transferred to Genoa and then in 1909 it merged with Società Piemontese Automobili (S.P.A.) in Turin.

History

The company was established in 1905 by investors in

La Spezia La Spezia (, or , ; in the local Spezzino dialect) is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the southern part of the Liguria region of Italy. La Spezia is the second largest city ...

, Liguria, Italy to produce large, prestigious, luxury vehicles, but shortly after founding it transferred to Genoa. The lack of technical skills in the Genoese workforce forced the company to seek business partners, and resulted in both the 1907 closure of the Genoa plant and the 1909 merger with the Turin automobile manufacturer Società Piemontese Automobili (SPA). The new company traded as Società Ligure Piemontese Automobili. The company was also the Italian agent for

Thornycroft Thornycroft was an English vehicle manufacturer which built coaches, buses, and trucks from 1896 until 1977. History In 1896, naval engineer John Isaac Thornycroft formed the Thornycroft Steam Carriage and Van Company which built its fir ...

vehicles.

Manufacturing

The emphasis on quality meant that steel was imported from

Krupp The Krupp family (see pronunciation), a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, is notable for its production of steel, artillery, ammunition and other armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG (Friedrich Krup ...

in Germany and vehicle testing was extensive, but lack of technical skills in the workforce resulted in both the 1907 closure of the Genoa plant and the 1909 transfer of manufacturing to the Turin manufacturer Società Piemontese Automobili (SPA).

Vehicles

The initial cars were a 12/16 hp and 16/24 hp, both with four-cylinder engines and shaft drive. Later they added a 40 hp model with chain drive. All engines had the cylinders cast in pairs.The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present, by

G.N. Georgano George Nicolas "Nick" Georgano (29 February 1932 – 22 October 2017Nick Georgano
Alvis Archive Bl ...

. Article - F.L.A.G. ''I'' (1905-1908) The range was expanded with six-cylinder models rated as 40 and 70 hp.

Competition

In 1906 the Marchese Giovanni Battista Raggio won the ''Circuito Bresciano'' with a "FLAG 6S/40". F.L.A.G. initially entered 3 cars for the 1907 I Kaiser Preis held on 13–14 June in the Taunus mountains, but only Carlo Raggio was named and no vehicles started.

References

*Includes translation from German Wikipedia
Enciclopedia dell'Automobile - Volumi singoli By Script edizioni. F.L.A.G. 1905-1907 article
*The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present, by

G.N. Georgano George Nicolas "Nick" Georgano (29 February 1932 – 22 October 2017Nick Georgano
Alvis Archive Bl ...

. Article - F.L.A.G. ''I'' (1905-1908)

External links