8 March: International Women's Day at Autoworld

The role of women in automotive history is often grossly overlooked. Today, Autoworld wants to highlight that role, on the occasion of International Women's Day. All women visiting Autoworld today, 8 March, can not only see the cars below in the permanent collection, but will also receive a small gift.

Minerva

First up is Minerva. This Roman goddess of wit, ingenuity and wisdom gave her name to the eponymous, prestigious Belgian car brand that first made its name and fame as a bicycle and motorbike manufacturer. Belgian impressionist painter Rosalie-Anna Boch was one of the famous Minerva customers.

Mercédès

Carl Benz became the first car manufacturer in 1895. His wife Bertha became the world's first motorist because her husband only drove some test drives. Bertha proved more entrepreneurial and drove 100 km round trip to her mother on 5 August 1988 after borrowing a car from her husband's workshop and only leaving a note on the kitchen table. Along the way, she fixed several defects herself, including with a hatpin and her jaretelle. She would also become the inventor of brake lining and was the first to point out that a car also needed a gearbox to climb steeper. After Benz merged with Daimler, the brand became 'Mercedes Benz.' It was Austrian Daimler importer Emil Jellinek who convinced Daimler to adopt his daughter Mercédès Jellinek's name at the merger.

Grace Kelly

In 1955, Alfred Hitchcock uses a Sunbeam Alpine for the film 'To Catch A Thief.'It was Grace Kelly who uses it to scare co-star Gary Grant on a southern French coastal road. Fate played a sinister game when Grace Kelly, then Princess of Monaco, was killed at the wheel of a Rover P6 on 14 September 1982 on a road near where the scene from 'To Catch A Thief' was filmed.

Sheila Van Damm

In 1953, the British female testdriver Sheila Van Damm set a speedrecord of 120,125 mph in a Sunbeam Alpine. This was done in the Belgian town of Jabbeke, on what is now the E40 motorway. All British car brands came to Jabbeke in the '50s to set speed records.

Spirit of Ecstacy

One of the most famous women in automotive history is the 'Spirit of Ecstacy,' also known as 'The Silver Lady' or 'Emily.' It is the mascot that has graced Rolls-Royce's radiator since 1911. It was actress Eleanor Thornton who modelled the Charles Sykes-designed mascot. The statue of goddess Nikè in the Louvre also provided inspiration.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Super

And of course, a lot of women's names were used in naming cars. For instance, there is the Alfa Romeo Giuila. Where the link between Romeo and Giulia may be obvious.

Lancia Fulvia Coupe

And of course, a lot of women's names were used in naming cars. For instance, there is the Alfa Romeo Guila. Where the link between Romeo and Gulia may be obvious.
Lancia named a number of models after famous Italian roads. One was the Via Fulvia, named after Fulvia Flacca Bambula an aristocratic Roman woman who married, among others, Mark Antony. Lancia named its first successful rally car after the Via Fulvia.

Borgward Isabella Coupe

Borgward once wanted to release the Hansa 1500, but the engineers used the name 'Isabella' and it stuck.

Volvo Amazon

When Volvo released a new model in 1956, it was only allowed to be named as the Amason in Sweden, after the fearsome Greek female warriors. However, the German motorbike brand Kreidler had the rights to that name so a compromise was made and the Amason became the Volvo Amazon. After that, every Volvo would only get a number as its name.