ROA HISTORY

My grandfather Rafael Onieva Ariza (Baena, Córdoba, 1929) - who in 1950, while still a student, built his first motorcycle prototype, founded in 1952 the company Industrias Motorizados Onieva S.A.
This company began the manufacture of motorcycles in Madrid in 1953, using as a mark R.O.A. (Initials of his name Rafael Onieva Ariza), equipped with the well-known Hispanic engine Villiers.

In 1958 he presented a microcar at the Feria de Muestras in Barcelona; Equipped with three wheels and the Hispano Villiers twin-cylinder 250cc engine, was inspired by the lines of the BMW Isetta, but due to its high price - 45,000 pesetas of the time - was not successful, making only 6 units.

In 1960 he partnered with the German BMW to assemble in Spain the R-27 motorcycles of this brand destined to the Civil Guard of Traffic; Also started manufacturing motorcycles, first with the Hispano Villiers engine, and later with a BMW engine for its 750kg models.

Both motorcycles and motorcycles would achieve a great commercial success, reaching more than 40,000 units in the 17 years of the firm's life.

Also in 1960 he would build a single series of 12 units of a four-wheeled motorcycle, inspired by the German Farmobil, equipped with a gasoline-powered BMW engine (two cylinders, 600cc cubicle and four strokes). But he had to abandon this project because of the denial of the manufacturing license, and the impossibility of obtaining import licenses for BMW engines.

Faced with the increase in the demand for industrial vehicles in the early 1960s, in 1961 he partnered with the German firm Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werk GmbH in Hamburg for the manufacture in Spain of vans Tempo; And the company called Tempo Onieva, S.A. Jointly owned by Industrias Motorizados Onieva, Barreiros Diesel SA and Rheinstahl Hanomag, owner of Tempo at that time and member of Barreiros in the manufacture of tractors.

These vans had a capacity of 1.5 tonnes of cargo, had a tubular chassis and front-wheel drive, and were equipped with the light 55 hp Barreiros diesel engine, being the first vans in the Spanish market equipped with diesel engine. More than 4,000 units were produced in 4 years.
ROA also manufactured a series of 100 fiberglass cabins for the first Barreiros trucks.
In 1963 the company was renamed Tempo Ibérica, S.A .; In 1967 would be absorbed by Barreiros Diesel, ceasing its activities.