Built Against - In an era when automotive dreams are often shaped by massive corporations and global platforms, small, almost forgotten projects feel more fascinating than ever. They remind us that passion, ambition, and stubborn creativity once mattered just as much as scale. One such story comes from Austria in the early 1980s, when a compact, wedge-shaped sports car called
the Ledl AS quietly challenged expectations and carved out a unique place in European automotive history.
The Ledl AS,
short for Austrian Sportscar,
was conceived and built by Gunter Ledl between 1981 and 1987.
Its roots trace back to a 1978 prototype originally named “Tanga,” a bold experiment that later had to be renamed after Porsche raised concerns over its similarity to the “Targa” trademark.
The finalized AS made its public debut at
the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1981, signaling
Ledl’s ambition to create the first mass-produced Austrian sports car in more than three decades—an impressive goal for a small, independent manufacturer.
Visually,
the Ledl AS wore its inspiration proudly. Its low-slung fiberglass body, sharp angles, and flip-up headlights echoed the dramatic presence of
the Lancia Stratos,
giving it a supercar-like silhouette despite its modest mechanical roots. The pop-up headlights were sourced from
the Porsche 928,
while the rear lights came from the Ford Granada, illustrating
Ledl’s pragmatic approach to design. Inside, the cabin relied heavily on
Ford components, resulting in a functional, straightforward interior that prioritized usability over luxury, but still fit the sporty character of the car.
Underneath the dramatic bodywork was where
the Ledl AS truly distinguished itself. Unlike many low-volume sports cars of the era, it was not a kit car.
Ledl developed a custom steel frame chassis in-house, drawing on his prior experience building
VW Beetle-based buggies and replicas, as well as his background in racing. This bespoke chassis gave
the AS structural credibility and set it apart from the countless fiberglass specials of the time.
Power came from proven Ford CVH four-cylinder engines,
mounted in a rear mid-engine layout.
The rare AS 130 used
a 1.3-liter engine producing around 65–69 horsepower,
with only about 20 units ever built.
The more common AS 160 featured
a 1.6-liter engine delivering roughly 90 horsepower,
later evolving into a fuel-injected 160i and even a turbocharged variant capable of reaching up to 130 horsepower. While the engines were considered underpowered relative to the car’s exotic looks, they were reliable and accessible, aligning with
Ledl’s practical engineering philosophy.
Despite a promising start—
128 orders by late 1982—
the Ledl AS struggled against bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles.
Although it passed TÜV approval in Germany, Austrian authorities initially refused road approval, severely limiting sales in its home country.
Only 17 cars were registered in Austria by court order, forcing Ledl to rely heavily on exports to markets such as Germany,
France,
the United States,
Japan,
New Zealand,
and even Ukraine. The final blow came in 1987, when new Austrian emissions regulations requiring catalytic converters proved too costly and complex for a small operation to meet in time.
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Today, with just 249 units produced across all variants, the Ledl AS stands as a rare and intriguing collector’s car. It represents a moment when individual vision briefly challenged industrial reality, leaving behind a machine that feels both ambitious and human. In a modern automotive world increasingly dominated by uniformity and digital precision, the Ledl AS feels refreshingly imperfect—a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable cars are born not from scale, but from sheer determination. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | BOOKCLASSIC.AT | AUTA5P.EU | CLASSIC AND RECREATION SPORTSCARS IN FACEBOOK | WEIRD WHEELS IN FACEBOOK | RARE COMPONENT CARS IN FACEBOOK | TOBIAS HARTMANN IN FLICKR ]
