PAST IMPERFECT:A complicated family tree led to the creation of the four-ringed auto giant that is today's Audi, writes Bob Montgomery
THE HISTORY of Audi's four-ringed badge, based unashamedly on the Olympic symbol, is a convoluted tale. It begins as far back as 1873, when two Swabians, Christian Schmidt and Heinrich Stoll, set out to capitalise on the economic boom following the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
The partners set up at Riedlingen on the Danube making knitting machines. The partnership lasted until 1879 when Schmidt left to start making bicycles, naming the new enterprise NSU, from his Neckarsulmer Strickmaschinen Union.
NSU was something of an innovator and soon built its first car, while continuing to make major leaps forward in bicycle design.
It was asked to design Daimler's first four-wheeler in 1888 and other contracts to design cars followed, most notably from Peugeot. Despite this, bicycles and then motorcycles remained the main output of the NSU factory.
However, let's leave the NSU story for a moment to recount the early history of the oldest of the "four-rings", Wanderer.
Wanderer was established in 1885 at Chemnitz in Saxony. It started by making bicycles, and from 1902 produced motorcycles. In 1911, car production began.
Their small car, called Püppchen, was a tremendous success and was used extensively by the German military in the first World War.
Chemnitz was also where DKW began its operations. A Danish entrepreneur, Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen, bought an old textile works to begin making metal products.
In the first World War, the company produced a largely unsuccessful steam vehicle called the Dampf Kraft Wagen - Steam Power Vehicle - and adopted its initials for the company.
Meanwhile, Dr August Horch had set up business in 1899 at Cologne-Ehrenfeld before settling in Zwickau in Saxony in 1904. A Horch 18/22 model won the second Herkomer Rally in 1906, greatly helping the success of the brand.
However, Horch left the company bearing his name in 1909 after a disagreement with his fellow directors. It was a condition of his leaving that he was forbidden from making new cars under his own name, but the following year he registered Audi GmbH to manufacturer cars.
"Horch" translates as "hark" while "Audi" means "listen", a choice of name that must have considerably irritated Horch's former colleagues.
Horch followed the successful route of his former company by using sporting success to establish the Audi name, and won the Austrian Alpine Rally driving one of his own cars.
In the difficult circumstances after the war, car production re-commenced slowly. Wanderer began again in 1923; Horch in 1926 with its fabulous 303 eight-cylinder model; DKW produced only motorcycles until 1928 when it introduced its first car, while Audi introduced front-wheel brakes in 1923.
However, success was short-lived and DKW took a major shareholding in Audi, while Horch fell into debt in the post-depression era. In 1936 Horch, Audi and DKW merged, basing themselves at Chemnitz and acquiring Wanderer to add the fourth ring to their new badge.
But what of NSU? Well, to be correct, the symbol should really have five rings, for in 1969 the four "parents", reconstituted as Auto Union GmbH, were joined by NSU.
The history of Audi - the name under which their products have been marketed since then - has been one of technical and sporting achievement and innovation.
Their success with diesel-powered racing cars at Le Mans in recent years is but the latest in a series for the four-ringed badge.