Candia is a
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
company producing Agricultural machinery and equipment, based in
Herakleion,
Crete
Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...
. It is representative of many companies in this country (and especially on that island), that produced multi-purpose light farm vehicles.
A particular family of vehicles that seems to be a characteristic Greek development starting in the mid-1960s, was a light farm tractor-truck combination usually on three-wheel chassis, with or without cab. Some were constructed by smaller companies, or even small workshops, but a number of more significant companies evolved, especially in
Crete
Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...
(where they are called ''"skaftikies"''), including (except for ''Candia'') ''
Record'', ''Kronos'', ''Knossos'', ''Minos'',
Minotavros', ''Talos'', ''Jupiter'' etc.; other companies included ''Demetra'' in
Volos
Volos (; ) is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about north of Athens and south of Thessaloniki. It is the capital of the Magnesia (regional unit), Magnesia regional unit of the Thessaly Region. Volos ...
, ''
Diana'', ''Standard'', ''Zeus Hellas'' in
Athens
Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
, and many others. Engines used included ''Sachs'', ''Ilo'', local models by ''Mekmotors'' (''Ruggerini'' licence), ''
Petropoulos'', ''
Malkotsis'' etc. By the early 1980s this kind of vehicle was so widespread, that had become characteristic of the Greek countryside.
''Candia'' was one of the few that became true industrial producers, turning out thousands of vehicles sold throughout the country, in addition to "classic" walking tractors. It built many models, usually with ''Sachs'' or ''Ilo'' engines, the most popular of which was a rugged three-wheel chassis combining truck and tractor functions.
This type of vehicle was considered obsolete by new buyers, already by the early 1990s, and most companies either closed down or (as in the case of ''Candia'') diverted to other farm equipment.
References
* L.S. Skartsis, "Encyclopedia of Greek vehicles and aircraft", Achaikes Ekdoseis/Typorama, Patras, Greece (1995)
L.S. Skartsis, "Greek Vehicle & Machine Manufacturers 1800 to present: A Pictorial History", Marathon (2012) (eBook)
Related links
History of Minotavros, a similar company in Crete
External links
Company website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Candia (Vehicles)
Companies of Greece
Motor vehicle manufacturers of Greece