Praga Alfa

Praga Alfa
Overview
Manufacturer - Praga
Production - 1913-1942
Body and chassis
Body style - 4-door 6-seat limousine / 4-door 4-seat phaeton / 4-door 6-seat convertible / 2-door 4-seater convertible / 2 door 2-seat coupe

The Praga Alfa was the name used by Praga in Czechoslovakia for one of its principal car ranges. Production started in 1913 and finished in 1942.
Overview
The Alfa was initially conceived as a cheaper and smaller complement to the Praga Grand and Mignon. The car was first produced in 1913 as a "people's car" for the mass market, combining affordability with reasonable levels of comfort and practicality. The design, developed under the leadership of Frantisek Kec, was traditional, combining a backbone frame with all-independent suspension and a side valve engine. Sales were successful, with all the vehicles produced in the first year sold within the year. Production was halted due to the mobilisation that led up to World War I but resumed in 1923. In September 1927, an Alfa with a larger 6 cylinder engine was introduced, followed by a completely new model in October 1937.
A total of 9257 vehicles were produced.

Praga Alfa

Alfa 5/15HP

Praga Alfa 5/15HP
Overview
Also called - Praga Alfa
Production - 1913
Assembly - Prague, Czechoslovakia
Body and chassis
Body style - 3-door phaeton
Layout - FR layout
Powertrain
Engine - 1,130 cc (69 in3) I4
Transmission - 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase - 2,650 mm (104 in)
Length - 3,545 mm (139.6 in)
Width - 1,400 mm (55 in)
Curb weight - 750 kg (1,650 lb) (phaeton)

The first Alfa was launched in 1913. The design was traditional with a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels through a four speed manual transmission. The wheelbase was 2,650 mm (104 in) and front and rear track were each 1,100 mm (43 in). Equipped with a 1,130 cc (69 in3) inline-four engine, which weighed 758 kilograms (1,672 lb) and developed 11 kW (15 hp), the car was capable of a top speed of 56 km/h (35 mph). Fuel consumption was 10 L/100 km (23.5 mpg.US). The engine had a bore of 60 mm (2.4 in) and stroke 100 mm (3.9 in). Each cylinder had two side valves. A phaeton body was fitted with three doors and four seats, which was 3,545 mm (139.6 in) long and 1,400 mm (55 in) wide. The total weight of the vehicle was 750 kg (1,650 lb). Production lasted one year before mobilisation for the First World War halted activity on civilian cars.
After the war, Praga found itself in a new country, Czechoslovakia, and a new economic reality, with imports of critical components like tyres proving expensive. Although the company had survived the war, production focused on vehicles like plows and roadrollers rather than cars. Production of the Alfa resumed in 1923, with the design unchanged. The cost of a car at the factory gate was 50,000 CSK. The car was slightly improved in 1925, with the addition of brakes to the front wheels and a statuette of a runner holding a laurel wreath in outstretched arms mounted on a new nickel-plated radiator.

1913 Praga Alfa

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