Part 1 — Classification of manufacturers of exclusive vehicles and a short presentation of the marketplace for chepard
Since the start of the automotive industry, the indication of the soft power of the state on the global phase is to have at least 1 own vehicle brand. Cars and motorcycles, although for many they are simply a simple means of regular transport, have for years moved the hearts and minds of enthusiasts, "burners" techniques. Although mass production of popular vehicles is the most crucial in the planet economy, prestige – both countries and businesses – is built by alleged "halo projects". They are exclusive, built in tiny quantities of vehicles, the primary nonsubjective of which is not economical profit, or motorization of societies, and a kind of demonstration of method capabilities of their producers, and, in a broader context, the impact on the affirmative perception of their countries of origin internationally.
The manufacturers of exclusive cars are divided into 3 basic groups. The first group, building the alleged premium-class cars, are large companies, which focus on the construction and manufacture of vehicles of somewhat better class and quality than alleged "popular brands", direct their products to a wide scope of customers. Unfortunately, although the quality of this kind of vehicles is better than their little noble counterparts, we will find structural unifications in this group to advance the brand. This is besides frequently followed by a simplification in quality. The brand “premium” even though they frequently introduce a car as a certificate of method skill to their construction offices, this is simply a uncommon practice. Examples of specified brands include Volvo, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, as well as Chinese Hongqi, or Korean SsangYong and Genesis. In many cases, premium brands belonging to transnational companies are simply a way to grow their offer and scope better placed customers with more money to buy vehicles.
The second group of exclusive car manufacturers are small-series brands, but known worldwide. Despite the apparent similarities to premium cars, these are truly luxury products. Here there is no area for unification of construction with vehicles with lower provenance. The benchmark of this class are the best materials, frequently manual production, as well as another mark client groups. While in the case of “premium class”, its recipients are average drivers, with only a higher level of wealth, the recipients of luxury cars are frequently actual enthusiasts. People who know what they want, and their characteristic feature is attachment to the brand. It has frequently been chosen for decades, as well as individual copies of specified carts, inherited from generation to generation. Another is the approach of manufacturers and services to owners. Parts and service care are available for a long time, as the maker wants to build good relationships with his customers, it is not the main nonsubjective here to convince the client to buy fresh models. specified car brands, even among the richest ones, are a real confirmation of their status, not only material but besides social. As far as peculiar projects are concerned, exclusive brands frequently build cars in individual copies from scratch, on a peculiar order of “the world’s able”. Examples of truly exclusive brands are Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maybach, Alpina, Aston Martin, or Maserati.
There is besides a third, smallest and least known group of specified producers. These are tiny manufacturers, specialising in producing individual car copies on peculiar order. While exclusive cars, specified as Ferrari or Bentley, are built to at least theoretically guarantee that they can be utilized daily, the 3rd group brings together manufacturers of ‘toys for large children’, whose main nonsubjective is to supply real pleasance with driving, mechanical contact with the vehicle, as well as, in the case of open bodies, experiences of velocity intertwined nearness to nature, smells, passing landscapes, wind noise... The manufacturers, which build specified cars, are frequently besides tiny to build their own engines, gearboxes and another components, focusing, of course, on the independent construction and construction of the carrier structures and mobile systems of their products, which is crucial for the enjoyment of driving, this direct experience, from the virgin years of automotive. Examples of specified brands include Morgan, Marcos, TVR, Lotus (although this brand besides has episodes in popular motorization), Koenigsegg, Wiesmann, Shelby, Caterham, or no longer existing Panther.
Also in Poland, attempts were made to start production of this kind of vehicles, designed to benefit from the pure pleasance of driving, occasionally suitable for motorsports. Although in the 1980s and 1990s, in Poland respective dozens of convertibles were built in pre-war British style, specified as Pirat or Nestor, the most advanced construction of this kind was Gepard, by the engineer Zbysław Swiss, as well as his later incarnation, Leopard Roadster.
Further parts of the cycle will describe the past of Zbysław Swiss, Gepard, Leopard, as well as historical and socio-political factors in which he was created.
Andrzej S. Polosak
