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Sabra Sport, Sussita 12 station wagon, and sedans (Carmel) at the factory in 1967
Sussita 13/60 sedan (Carmel Ducas)
Sussita 12 station wagon
Greek Attica Sussita 12 sedan (Carmel), only about 100 of which were produced.

Autocars Co. Ltd. (Hebrew: אוטוקרס) of Haifa, Israel, was Israel's first car manufacturer.

History

[edit]

Autocars Ltd, founded in 1957, made fiberglass-shelled cars that were popular in Israel during the 1960s and 1970s.[1] Government agencies were forced to buy them. This released onto the market thousands of low-priced second hand vehicles. Although their style and finish left something to be desired, Autocar's use of Ford and Triumph engines made them reliable cars which kept their value for years. The manufacturing of these cars ceased during the 1980s, and Israel's only remaining car making company today is AIL.

Autocars manufactured its own car models under the Sabra (Hebrew: צברה) brand. The line included a station wagon, pick-up and the Sabra Sport, a sports car derived from Reliant.

From 1960, the sport model was produced under the Sabra brand, and the station wagon, sedan and pick-up models were produced under the Sussita brand name (Sussita (סוסיתא), Sussita 12 and Sussita 13/60 models). Following an agreement with the Greek automotive manufacturer Attica, a small number of Sussita 12 sedans (Carmel) were produced in Greece.

Apart from its own brand, Autocars also assembled other car manufacturers’ models, such as Reliant Regal, and Triumph 1300 / 1500. These models were built using complete kits received from the brands owners.

Models for the Israeli market

[edit]

Sussita (A.K.A "Cube") - manufactured from 1960 till 1966. 2 doors station wagon and pick-up versions. Designed with the help of the British Reliant company. The car was built using various Ford's parts, mainly the Ford Anglia engine.

Carmel - manufactured from 1962 till 1964. A clone of the British three wheeler Reliant Regal, that was modified to have 4 wheels. The model had many problems, and was discontinued. The Carmel label was later given to next generations of the Sussita sedans.

Sussita 12 - manufactured from 1964 till 1970. Body versions:2 doors station wagon, 2 doors sedan (A.K.A Carmel), 4 doors sedan (A.K.A Gilboa) and pick-up versions. Till 1968 the Sussita 12 used the Ford Anglia engines, where the Gilboa had an optional 1500cc Ford's engine. From 1968 to 1970 the station wagon and sedans (Carmel and Gilboa), used the Triumph Herald 12/50 engine.

Sussita 13/60 - manufactured from 1970 till 1975. 2 doors station wagon, 2 doors sedan (A.K.A Carmel Ducas), and pick-up versions. 4 door sedan was not produced. The Sussita 13/60 was built on the British Triumph Herald's chassis, and used the Herald 13/60 engine and gearbox.

Autocars assembled several car models of other manufactures, using complete kits received from them. For example:

Triumph 1300 / Triumph 1500 - British Triumph cars from kits in the late 1960s. The Triumph lineup included the Triumph 1300, although originally only with a 1500 engine as the 1300 was considered too close to the 1.3 litre Hino Contessa.[2]

Hino Contesa 900 / Hino Contesa 1300 - Assembled from original kits received from Hino Japan. The franchise, to assemble the Contessa, moved in 1969 from Eilin to Autocars, after the Israeli government forced the merger of the two companies. The contract was discontinued when Toyota had taken over Hino.

Autocars went bankrupt in 1970. Its assembly lines were bought by Rom Carmel Industries. Rom Carmel continued to manufacture the Sussita 13/60, till 1975. Rom Carmel manufactured their own models: Rom Carmel 1300, and Rom Carmel 1301, till 1980.

Sabra

[edit]
Autocars Sabra Sport
Autocars Sabra Sport

The name "Sabra" was chosen because it means both "born in Israel" and a cactus (its fruit, prickly pear), which was used as its logo. In 1960, Yitzhak Shubinsky launched an Israeli-made car at the autoshow in New York City. It was a very small, underpowered pick-up truck. At the show Shubinsky realized that it was a futile attempt, and set forth on a new project.

He bought the rights to use an Ashley body on a Leslie Ballamy chassis. He reached an agreement with Reliant (who had helped producing the "Carmel" and the "Sussita") to combine engine, body and chassis into a convertible sports-car. The engine was a Ford 1703 cc. Reliant was authorized to deliver the first 100 cars to the United States market.

In 1961, at the New York Autoshow, the first Sabras were introduced. Reliant produced the first 100 cars. Their VIN-plates read "AUTOCARS COMPANY LIMITED HAIFA ISRAEL", though they were actually made in the United Kingdom. The rest of the cars were produced in Israel, but only 41 of those were exported to the USA. One of these was entered into the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1963 but did not finish due to a drive shaft failure.[3]

Between 1964 and 1968, some 81 cars – a quarter of the Israeli production – were exported to Belgium. Production stopped with the Six-Day War. Orders already placed were honoured, but delivery was delayed until 1968–69. Worldwide, over 100 Sabra cars are still traceable, over twenty of them in Belgium.

The Sabra can also be seen on a record cover of the Israeli band צמד דרום.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Autocars Co.

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from Grokipedia
Autocars Co. Ltd. (Hebrew: אוטוקרס) was an Israeli automobile manufacturer founded in 1957 in by Shubinsky, specializing in affordable fiberglass-bodied vehicles that became symbols of early Israeli automotive independence. The company initially assembled Reliant three-wheelers and vans from the before developing its own models, such as the boxy Susita introduced in 1959, which used a engine and became Israel's best-selling car until 1978. With technical assistance from Reliant Motor Company starting in the mid-1950s, Autocars expanded into sports cars and sedans, launching the Sabra in 1960—a two-seater roadster with a body designed by Ashley Laminates and powered by a 1.7-liter Ford engine, of which approximately 400 were built overall (including about 100 in the UK), around 300 assembled in , and 148 exported to the . In 1965, the company entered into a with Leyland's Triumph division, leading to the production of models like the Carmel sedan and Gilboa utility vehicle equipped with engines, as well as assembled sedans for the local market. Government policies encouraged purchases of these domestically made vehicles, boosting sales despite quality concerns and competition from imported cars. Autocars' vehicles, including variants of the Susita as vans and pickups, were primarily designed for practicality in Israel's developing economy, featuring simple construction with steel chassis and fiberglass panels to reduce costs and weight. The Sabra, named after the native prickly pear cactus symbolizing Israeli resilience, represented an ambitious foray into performance cars but faced challenges like rust issues from the chassis and limited production due to economic constraints. By the 1970s, ownership changed hands: acquired by Rom Carmel Industries in 1974 and then Urdan Industries in 1978, reflecting the company's struggles amid rising fuel prices and import liberalization. Production ceased around 1981 after sales dropped to just 540 units in 1980, marking the end of Israel's brief era of domestic car manufacturing, though Autocars' output laid groundwork for later industrial efforts and remains celebrated in automotive for its pioneering role. Today, surviving examples like the Susita and Sabra are collector's items, with over 100 Sabras traceable worldwide, highlighting their cultural significance in Israel's post-independence narrative.

History

Founding and Early Years

Autocars Co. Ltd. was founded in 1957 by entrepreneur Yitzhak Shubinsky in , , establishing the nation's first dedicated automotive manufacturer with the explicit aim of fostering self-sufficiency in vehicle production following . This initiative aligned with broader post-1948 economic policies designed to curtail reliance on vehicle imports, promote local industry, and address the growing demand for affordable transportation in a developing . The company's early operations centered on complete knock-down (CKD) assembly of imported kits from international partners, beginning with British manufacturer Reliant's three-wheeled vehicles and the four-wheeled Regent van at modest workshops in . These efforts incorporated Ford components, such as the Anglia 105E engine, to produce initial models suited to local needs, emphasizing durability for Israel's varied road conditions including urban streets and rural paths. By prioritizing local labor, Autocars sought to build skills and stimulate in the nascent sector. Initial production goals focused on scaling to meet domestic demand, targeting up to 2,400 vehicles annually by the late to support economic independence and reduce outflows on imports. A pivotal early came in with the establishment of a dedicated factory in , which expanded operations, hired additional local workers, and enabled adaptations like reinforced suspensions for Israeli terrain. This facility laid the groundwork for the company's shift toward proprietary designs, such as the Sabra line, in the 1960s.

Expansion and Local Manufacturing

In the early 1960s, Autocars Co. expanded its operations through a strategic partnership with the British Reliant Motor Company, initiating design collaboration on the Sabra prototype to enhance vehicle development capabilities. This alliance enabled Autocars to transition from initial assembly of imported kits to greater localization, with Reliant providing and body designs adapted for Israeli production in . In 1965, Autocars entered a partnership with British Leyland's Triumph division, becoming an overseas associate and adopting Triumph Herald engines for models like the Carmel sedan and Gilboa utility vehicle, while also assembling Triumph 1300 sedans for the local market. Building on this momentum, Autocars launched assembly lines for the Sussita station wagon in 1960, utilizing a platform developed in-house with fiberglass bodies manufactured locally to meet domestic demand for affordable family vehicles. Full production began in 1960, following prototypes developed in 1958–1959. Production scaled significantly during the decade, reaching a peak of more than 3,000 units annually by the mid-1960s, supported by the relocation of facilities to development towns like Tirat Carmel. These efforts aligned with Israel's broader industrialization drive, bolstered by government backing from Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir, who endorsed local manufacturing to foster economic self-sufficiency and job creation amid high import tariffs that discouraged foreign vehicles. Key challenges in this expansion included adapting designs to the harsh Middle Eastern environment, where the Sussita's fiberglass exterior proved vulnerable to extreme heat and other elements, and training a workforce largely composed of unskilled immigrants to maintain production quality. Despite these hurdles, the focus on indigenous components and assembly processes marked a pivotal step toward higher local content, employing hundreds in the process and contributing to national industrial growth.

Decline and Closure

The 1967 Six-Day War profoundly disrupted Autocars Co.'s operations, halting production of the Sabra line due to supply chain interruptions from international partners such as Reliant in the UK, as imports of components and CKD kits were suspended amid the conflict. Orders placed prior to the war were eventually fulfilled, but deliveries were postponed until 1968–1969, exacerbating financial strain. Concurrently, the war shifted national resources toward military priorities, with labor and materials diverted to defense manufacturing, limiting availability for civilian automotive assembly. In the late and early , Autocars grappled with escalating economic pressures, including high production costs from dependence on imported parts and inefficient local fabrication processes. Quality control problems, such as rapid rusting in Israel's humid coastal regions and overall poor build integrity leading to frequent mechanical failures, diminished the reliability of vehicles like the Sussita and undermined market acceptance. Trade liberalization in the early further intensified challenges, as reduced import barriers enabled cheaper foreign cars to enter the Israeli market, eroding demand for domestically assembled models. Production at Autocars declined precipitously after the war; the Sabra line, once a symbol of export ambition, fell to under 100 units annually by 1968, with total output limited to fewer than 400 vehicles overall. Broader operations, which had peaked at over 3,000 units per year during the 1960s expansion phase, dwindled amid these setbacks, culminating in partial factory closure in by 1971 and initiation of liquidation proceedings. In the aftermath, Autocars' assets were auctioned and the remnants acquired by Rom Carmel Industries in 1974, and then by Urdan Industries in 1978, which continued limited Sussita-based production under the Rom brand until full closure in 1981. Founder Shubinsky, amid legal battles over alleged financial irregularities, had pivoted to other business interests before his death in a car accident in July 1981.

Products

Assembled Models for the Israeli Market

Autocars Co. assembled a range of utility vehicles for the Israeli market, primarily focusing on affordable family and commercial transport using foreign-licensed components and designs. The company's key offering was the Sussita series, a and pickup developed in collaboration with British firm Reliant, featuring a lightweight body for cost efficiency and durability on local roads. Production of the Sussita began in 1959 with completely knocked-down (CKD) kits imported from the , incorporating engines from , such as the Anglia 105E's 997 cc unit producing 37 kW. Later variants, including the Sussita 12 from 1964 to 1970, upgraded to larger engines like the Ford Cortina's 1,198 cc unit, while maintaining the fiberglass construction to reduce weight and manufacturing expenses in a resource-limited economy. The assembly process emphasized CKD kits to facilitate local integration, with Autocars progressively increasing domestic content through in-house molding and component fabrication at its facility. Engines and chassis elements were sourced from to ensure reliability, while adaptations included reinforced structures suitable for Israel's varied terrain, though specific dust-proofing modifications for desert conditions were not widely documented. The Sussita series, including , , and pickup variants, reached peak annual production of over 3,000 units in the , forming the bulk of Autocars' output and dominating the as an economical option for growing urban and rural families, with total production exceeding 30,000 units until the late . Autocars also produced the Carmel sedan starting in , initially powered by a 1,200 cc engine and later upgraded to 1,296 cc units after 1965, offering a more enclosed family alternative with bodywork on a steel chassis. The Gilboa utility vehicle, introduced in 1966 as a four-door variant of the Carmel, used 1,146 cc and later 1,296 cc Triumph engines, designed for commercial and rugged use with enhanced load capacity. These models contributed to Autocars' lineup of practical sedans and utilities, aligning with government incentives for local . In addition to the Sussita, Autocars assembled the sedan from CKD kits supplied by between 1967 and 1973, positioning it as a more refined alternative with and a 1,296 cc engine delivering 46 kW. This model incorporated local assembly of body panels and trim, aligning with government incentives for partial domestic manufacturing. Overall, these assembled vehicles accounted for the majority of Autocars' production, supporting Israel's post-independence economic expansion by providing accessible mobility without full reliance on imports.

Sabra Brand Vehicles

The Sabra brand, launched by Autocars Co. Ltd. in 1961, represented 's inaugural effort at producing original automobiles, with the name deriving from the Hebrew term for a native-born Israeli citizen, symbolizing national pride and self-reliance in manufacturing. The lineup featured sports cars with construction for lightweight durability in a resource-constrained environment. Production of Sabra sports models totaled approximately 379 units between 1961 and 1968, with the initial 100 assembled in the by partner Reliant before shifting to , . The flagship Sabra Sport and Sabra GT models adopted a body designed by Ashley Laminates, mounted on a custom tubular chassis engineered by Leslie Ballamy in collaboration with Reliant, drawing inspiration from mid-1960s European grand tourers while prioritizing affordability and local assembly. Early variants, including the open-top Sabra Sport produced from 1962 to 1964, were powered by a 1.7-liter inline-four engine delivering 61 horsepower, paired with a ZF four-speed , front disc brakes from Austin, and a rear-wheel-drive layout; metrics included a top speed of 91 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration in about 12.7 seconds for standard setups. The coupe-style Sabra GT, introduced in 1965 and continuing through 1968, offered optional tuning via an kit with dual SU carburetors, boosting output to 90 horsepower and improving 0-60 mph times to around 11.7 seconds, while maintaining a lightweight curb weight under 2,000 pounds for enhanced responsiveness. Exports highlighted the brand's international reach, with about 144 units shipped to the and 81 to , marking the only Israeli sports cars to achieve notable overseas distribution. These vehicles pioneered domestic automotive innovation through multi-supplier sourcing—encompassing 27 vendors for components like taillights—and represented Israel's sole original line, despite challenges in scaling amid economic isolation.

Legacy and Impact

Influence on Israeli Industry

Autocars Co. Ltd. played a pioneering role in establishing Israel's automotive sector as the country's first dedicated car manufacturer, founded in 1957 in with technical assistance from the British Reliant Motor Company. Initially focused on assembling three-wheeled Reliant vehicles, the company transitioned to producing four-wheeled models like the Sussita, introducing local assembly techniques that built foundational skills among Israeli workers in and . This effort aligned with the nascent state's import-substitution policies, where government agencies were mandated to purchase domestically produced vehicles, fostering early industrial self-reliance despite the company's modest scale compared to international automakers. The company's advocacy for protective economic measures in the 1950s and 1960s contributed to shaping 's broader manufacturing strategy, including incentives that supported local production over imports. Under leaders like Yitzhak Shubinsky, Autocars influenced policy discussions, as evidenced by government directives compelling the firm to acquire a in 1969 for $3 million to bolster national industry, though this exacerbated financial strains. These efforts helped cultivate a nascent ecosystem for automotive components, encouraging domestic suppliers for essentials like batteries and tires, which extended to adjacent sectors and embodied the "Make it in Israel" ethos during the post-independence era. Technologically, Autocars advanced molding techniques licensed from Reliant, enabling lightweight vehicle bodies for models such as the Sussita and Sabra Sport, which peaked at over 3,000 units annually in the . This innovation transferred know-how to other industries, including equipment, and laid groundwork for later applications in military vehicles, though the company's operations ceased in 1981 amid economic challenges. By training hundreds of local workers in these methods, Autocars indirectly supported subsequent firms like Merkavim in , contributing to Israel's enduring emphasis on industrial innovation despite the automotive sector's limited long-term scale.

Modern Collectibility

Autocars Co. vehicles, particularly the Sabra Sport and Sussita models, have gained niche appeal among enthusiasts due to their scarcity and historical uniqueness as products of Israel's nascent . Only about 332 Sabra Sports were produced in Israel between 1960 and around 1970, with about 41 exported to the , making surviving examples exceedingly rare—estimated at fewer than 100 worldwide, many in low-mileage or restored condition. Auction results reflect this desirability; for instance, a 1964 Sabra Sports GT sold for $78,400 at Bonhams in Scottsdale in 2019, while presale estimates for similar models have ranged from $50,000 to $100,000 in recent years. The Sussita station wagons, produced in greater numbers from 1959 to 1980, are more attainable but still command premium prices for well-restored specimens, with Hagerty's #3 Good condition valuation at $9,100 as of 2025, often reaching $10,000 to $20,000 at or private sale for examples in superior shape. These values underscore the models' rising collectibility, as noted in Hagerty's 2025 analysis of cars, where the Sussita appears as an unexpected standout due to limited North American exports and growing appreciation among collectors. construction contributes to their survival, though challenges like chassis and the scarcity of Reliant-sourced components—given the Sabra's shared platform with the British Reliant —complicate maintenance. Enthusiast communities in actively preserve these vehicles through dedicated clubs and restoration efforts. The 5 Club, 's premier classic car association founded in 1985, hosts weekly gatherings and events where members restore Autocars models, fostering camaraderie among owners of vintage Israeli autos. The Fiber Club focuses on vehicles like the Sussita and Sabra, organizing collaborative restoration projects and emphasizing their . Internationally, interest has grown via publications such as Hagerty Media's 2015 profile on the Sabra and Petrolicious features from 2014 and 2016 highlighting rare coupes and convertibles, with U.S.-based restorations gaining visibility—exemplified by a 2020 Barn Finds listing of an ultra-low-mileage 1962 Sabra Roadster. The Sussita Project, an ongoing documentary and hands-on restoration initiative, further documents survivor stories and preservation techniques for these "Made-in-" icons. Recent developments highlight ongoing preservation amid parts shortages, with no official revivals but innovative solutions like 3D-printed components aiding restorers— a trend increasingly applied to vintage autos, including Reliant-derived chassis parts for Sabras, to replicate unavailable originals without costly fabrication. The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville permanently displays a 1962 Sabra Sport Four, offering public access to an authentic example and educating visitors on its engineering ties to British designs. In 2025, the museum's rotating exhibits continue to feature eclectic classics, indirectly boosting awareness of underrepresented models like the Sabra through broader automotive history programming. Culturally, Autocars vehicles symbolize Israeli post-independence ingenuity, blending local assembly with imported expertise to produce affordable transport in a resource-scarce . A 2021 MyCarQuest article spotlighted the Sabra Sport's obscurity and charm, drawing renewed attention from global enthusiasts and reinforcing its status as Israel's sole domestically designed . Despite hurdles like sourcing period-correct Reliant mechanicals, these cars endure as tangible links to mid-20th-century , celebrated in media for their quirky aesthetics and resilient bodies.

References

  1. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-10-10/ty-article-magazine/.premium/romance-tax-evasion-and-crushed-dreams-what-happened-to-the-first-and-only-israeli-car/00000192-6c14-da6e-adff-ee3fd2060000
  2. https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/sabra/
  3. https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/triumph/around-the-world-autocars-of-israel/
  4. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/ambitious-autocars-sussita/
  5. https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/collection/cars/item/sabra-sport-four/
  6. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-841382
  7. https://www.jewishindependent.ca/the-sussitas-short-history/
  8. http://www.sporting-reliants.com/Sabra.htm
  9. https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/the-little-israeli-car-that-couldnt-the-story-of-the-susita-664956
  10. https://www.ebay.com/motors/blog/a-perfect-example-of-israels-only-sports-car/
  11. https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/04/14/__trashed-13/
  12. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00076791.2024.2340622
  13. https://www.jta.org/archive/yitzhak-shubinsky-dead-at-68
  14. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/1962-sabra/
  15. https://www.automobile-catalog.com/performance/1966/3104375/sabra_sport_tuned_engine.html
  16. https://magazine.esra.org.il/posts/entry/israeli-cars-in-the-world-of-motoring.html
  17. https://moreshet.com/en/yitzhak-shubinsky-pioneering-the-israeli-automotive-industry
  18. https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/23133/lot/109/from-the-italian-vintage-cars-collection-1964-sabra-gt-coupe-chassis-no-gt4819-engine-no-s305658/
  19. https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/past-sales/1964-sabra-sports/GT4819/7a911d23-cb18-4514-8052-3c92992ee19e
  20. https://www.hagerty.com/media/buying-and-selling/oddball-cars-at-scottsdale-2018/
  21. https://www.secret-classics.com/en/sabra-gt-coup-2/
  22. https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/sabra/sussita/1963/1963-sabra-sussita
  23. https://www.autoguide.com/auto/collector-cars-of-the-1960s-by-the-numbers-44626246
  24. https://www.jpost.com/metro/features/revved-up-on-vintage-317211
  25. https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/reliant-sabre/
  26. https://5club.org.il/about-us/
  27. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-show-classic/car-show-classics-the-weekly-meeting-of-the-israeli-five-club/
  28. https://www.facebook.com/TheSussitaProject/
  29. https://petrolicious.com/blogs/articles/sabra-coupe-is-rare-and-relatively-unknown
  30. https://petrolicious.com/blogs/articles/the-sabra-gt-is-the-sports-car-from-israel-you-ve-been-waiting-for
  31. https://barnfinds.com/rare-1962-sabra-sport-roadster/
  32. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a62789568/3d-printing-technology-keeping-old-cars-running/
  33. https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/events/exhibit/
  34. https://mycarquest.com/2021/02/i-have-never-heard-of-the-sabra-sport-before-have-you.html
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