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Private company

Fafnir

Logo: Auge=mit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

German maker of vehicles and engines, 1894-1926

Fafnir was a German engine and vehicle manufacturer based in Aachen (Prussia). They made a range of cars between 1908 and 1926. The company was founded in 1894 producing needles.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1894Founded1
  • Industryautomotive industry, manufacture of motor vehicles, vehicle construction1
  • HeadquartersAachen1
  • Legal formAktiengesellschaft1

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FafnirAC
Photo: The original uploader was Dino1948 at German Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Fafnir was a German engine and vehicle manufacturer based in Aachen (Prussia). They made a range of cars between 1908 and 1926.2

Products and brands

Omnimobil and early car production

In 1904, the company started to produce kits, consisting of an engine and associated components, to allow others, particularly bicycle makers, to enter into motor vehicle production. These were sold under the name "Omnimobil". The kit at first was based around a two-cylinder engine rated at 6 Horsepower(HP) with later a larger option with a four-cylinder, 16 HP unit.

Beginning in 1908, finished cars were manufactured with the type "274" with a 1520 cubic centimetre(cc) engine and a maximum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and the type "284" with 2012cc capable of 70 km/h (43 mph). The engines had overhead inlet and side exhaust valves.

By 1912 six different models were available at prices between 4,100 and 16,000 German Reichsmark(RM).

Early motorcycle production

From 1900, the company produced motorcycle engines in various capacities up to 8h.p. V-twins. From 1903 until 1914 they also produced complete motorcycles.

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The 1914 engine production included the following:

2.5 hp (70mm bore, 80mm stroke) single with ball bearing crankshaft

3.5 hp (85mm bore, 88mm stroke) single with ball bearing crankshaft

4.5 hp (86mm bore, 96mm stroke) single

5-6 hp (70mm bore, 80mm stroke) twin

Cycle Car engine (85mm bore, 88mm stroke) twin with either air or water cooling

From Wikipedia’s article on Fafnir (automobile), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1926Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1894Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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