Alta A700

Alta logoΆλτα, (Alta) was a Greek manufacturer of light and heavier three-wheeler trucks, motorcycles and passenger cars (and assembling TV sets in the early 1970’s).

The company was founded in Athens in 1958 and originally produced 50cc three-wheel trucks with the Colibri brand name. The name Alta (derived from the name of Alexandra Tangalis, wife of its founder, Ioannis Tangalis) was adopted in 1962 and soon thereafter the company products were supplemented with motorcycles, which became known for their reliability, with some surviving to this date in good working condition.

Alta A700 (1967)

Alta A700 (1967)

In 1967 Alta designed and developed model A700, a heavier three-wheel truck with a 2-cylinder 35HP engine (used by BMW in the ‘700’ series from 1959-1966) and a payload of 800 kg. The truck, featuring a pleasant design and high reliability became one of the most successful vehicles of it’s kind in Greece.

In 1968 a three-wheel passenger car, model A200, was introduced, which benefited from the classification of three-wheelers as ‘motorcycles’ by Greek law. Powered by a Heinkel 200cc engine, the A200 was based on the German Fuldamobil – also produced by Attica in Greece under license – but with Alta’s own body design.

In 1968 Alta acquired the production facilities of Bioplastic, SA and its license for the manufacture of the German vehicle Fuldamobil. Alta then introduced a small three-wheeled passenger car, model A200. Powered by a Heinkel 200cc engine, the A200 was based on the German  Fuldamobil but with Alta’s own body design. The Alta A200 had moderate success in the Greek market and was soon considered obsolete.

Eventually the company moved its production to a new, larger factory in Elefsis where it operated until 1978, while since 1972 its founders had created DELCA, a small electrical appliances producer.