Second Century on the road.

BelowYou can read fantastic history of car which oficial name is PROMBRON' (ex.RussoBaltique). But press also call it DARTZ PROMBRON or DARTZ KOMBAT. We like all our names. And just inform You that DARTZ.KOMBAT is brand for military and police cars made by our group of companies.

Second Century on the road – is long or is it short? Some world wellknown and popular brands celebrate their 20 years – and they are happy, wellknown and wealty.

 Some brands celebrate 50 years – and  people think „WOOOW!!! That’s damn too much”. Some brands which was born together with RussoBalt or later are forgotten now. Who remember  Pierce Arrow or Duesenberg,  Hispano Suiza or Alvis? Carf fans, collectors, historics.  And only some brands are same ages as RussoBalt – these are Mercedes, Bugatti, Rolls-Royce  and may be some more. Not too much more, as life is strange thing.  Cars which was on top 100 years ago – are only history now, car which was born 10 years ago are named as supercar.

But let’s think – is there soul and spirit in so-called supercars? Power – Yes, of course! High-tech – yes, sure! Superprice – no doubt, here You are!

Soul? Why do we need it – will tell You managers – we achieve 100 km.per hour in some seconds, is there any place for soul? And we think they are right. Supercars don’t need soul. They born today, in our modern time, time were is no place for soul, time were dollar (euro) is a king and soul is just forgotten substance, which not needed for car.  Of course people turn their heads when knee-level car is  flying by as fast as You can’t check it’s brand, of course – that’s supercar. But do You hear Your heartthrob? Not sure. No soul. Just power.

PROMBRON’ (ex.RussoBaltique) is Your soul car. Strong and armored – but friendly and lovely, Your friend car, Your guard car. Car which remeber Tzars and Princeses, car which remeber wars and rally’s, lost’s and victory’s. Car which were loved by commy Tzars and car which once shocked this world.

This is PROMBRON’ (ex.RussoBaltique) – Your 4 TW Drive car. Drive For The Win Car. One of the world oldest brands. Born again. Born to win again. Born to surprise again. Born to be loved again.

It was more than hunderd years ago at 1907, in Riga, thos time Tzars Russia, when at luxury train coach factory which was launched at 1869, was made a decision to manufacture cars. Some people celebrate this date of RussoBalt brand birth. At 1908 manufacturing was started – and some people celebrate this date. First serial car left factory July, 9, 1909 – and why not to drink again? But anycase, and anydate – this car is second century on the road. Just imagine. Two world wars passed. Depressions, recessions, crizises. Factory was evacuated many times, from tzars became commy’s, from russian became soviet, from soviet – became...german and so on.   But this car is here again.

So, some historical facts, dates and numbers.

1909 – one of oficially celebrated RussoBalt brand birthdays. This year (2009) in November we bought new boots to our grandgrandpa – firemans RussoBalt, which are in Riga Motor Museum.

1911, December, 31 – Andrew Nagel start his brave way to Monaco Rally. Minus 19 around. Soft top. More then 3000 miles way. Way to Monaco. For that purpose car was specially renamed to RussoBaltique and have Russia and Monaco flags on board. Before russian border kazak’z on horses cleaned way from snow – You can just imagine this way. But thanks bravenes of drivers, which have no GPS, cellular phones and gas stations on the road, unique quality of car and details of this car (Nagel send a Telegramm to Russian Tzar Nikolai II: „We finished in Monaco. Still St.petersburg air in my tires”), and yes, of course thanks Vodka, which was enough not to freeze on this way, to drive and, of course to win. Drivers Nagel and Mikhailov was avarded by Monaco Prince Louis and by Russian Tzar Nikolai II. They did it! We remember, we follow! And it was 1912 in the world J.

1912. RussoBalt start manufacture car for Russian Tzar Army. This was world first 4 x 4 drive car. And Tzar Nikolai II tested it and ordered. Before that he used only Rolls-Royces. From 1912 in his garage was two brands Rolls-Royce and Russo-Balt. Good neighbours.

1914. One of the world first armored cars was made at RussoBalt factory. WW I was started and RussoBalt became a warrior. Good and strong warrior. And same year was started evacuation to St.Petersburg.

 

1915. Was launched manufacturing at Putilovsky Zavod, St.Petersburg. re,eber this name.

1917. Lenin met it. He met RussoBalt. All we know what happened after that – yes, great October Socialist Revolution which shoocked and shocked the world. Which divide this world on two parts – socialist part and capitalist part. RussoBalt left on Socialist part. That we can see from new logo.

1922. Car got a new commy name. PROMBRON (ex.RussoBalt). it’s hardly understandable for not russians name is very easy PROM – manufacturing, BRON’ – armor. Ex.RussoBalt – former RussoBalt, in memories of father RussoBalt. And also new house – near Moscow. Was made five cars for Trocky, Voroshilov, Kalinin and other new russia commy tzars.

A little bit later car factory was sold to german concern Junkers (realize – germans will never buy bad thing), but factory. But in same place are still manufactured...soviet cosmic rockets. Yes, RussoBalt is not only grangrandpa of PROMBRON’ (ex.RussoBaltique) but also of Space industry. Only space? No!!!  All we know who invented helicopter – Igor Sikorsky, RussoBalt engeneer.

And nowadays.

1998 – exact 90 years after RussoBalt was launched Dmitry Parfenov, Gorby’s favorite car designer were walking around Putilovsky Zavod – were his office was located. Nobody know what idea come to his head. He also don’t remeber. May be he noticed piece of old armored car or tank, may be something else. But he decide to build armored car. And he did it. As You remember exact to Putilovsky was evacuated RussoBalt at 1914-1915. He named his car KOMBAT T-98. Why KOMBAT and why 98 – You can understand. T – this letter got all soviet tanks. 90 years after RussoBalt wake up. And start it’s way.

2000 –DARTZ invited  KOMBAT’s to  visit it’s  historical Motherland – Riga, Latvia. Riga was happy, proud  and shocked. And invited back.

Same year, not related with our team group of enthusiasts  launched their own project RussoBaltique Impression.

2007 – RussoBaltique Impression were starring at Geneva AutoSalon.

2008 – it take some years to come back to Baltic, but it happend. Not in Riga, due some politeconomical reasons in neighbour country – Estonia.

2009 – April. PROMBRON (ex.RussoBalt) did same way as Nagel and Mihailov on their RussoBalt. St.Petersburg – Riga – Monaco. And was one & only car on the show which come not on trailer.

It was a start, which still shine up Cote d’Azur, as first RussoBaltique saloon is planed to be opened this spring in Cannes.

So, what RussoBalts World  have now.

One original fireman RussoBalt in Riga Motor Museum.

One original RussoBalt limo at Moscow Politechincal Museum.

One Lenin’s bronevik (copy) at ST.Petersburg Museum.

One authentic copy of 1914 armored car.

One luxury sedan RussoBaltique Impression.

PROMBRON’ (ex.RussoBaltique) – World Most Expensive Armored Car.

 

For more informations, high res pictyres e.t.c please contact:

dartzkombat@gmail.com