South American Car Club Badges - Part I

Published Aug 26, 2026 - AutoMobilia E-Newsletter
by John & Henri Boggs

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South American Car Club Badges – Part I From the Rio Grande to the Panama Canal

The automobile clubs in Mexico, Central America, and South America developed more slowly than in the United States and Canada. This was largely due to factors related to geography, economic development, and the low number of automobiles at the time. Some countries, like Argentina and Uruguay, were influenced by Europe and were developed at a faster pace. Automobile clubs were organized along the lines of the European organizations. These early South American clubs were mainly social organizations and touring clubs, and were located in the large cities. They were mostly state-backed informal organizations that developed into the national clubs we see today. Automobile owners in many countries were simply supported by local auto mechanics and auto repair businesses, and their local clubs had no national organization connections or affiliations. 

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The Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (A.I.T.) was formed by 17 of the world’s cycle and touring clubs in 1898 as the Ligue Internationale des Associations Touristes (L.I.A.T.) to work on tourism issues. It was reorganized after World War I in 1919 as the A.I.T. The badge measures 2.75" diameter with a gold color finish, painted, and dates from the 1950s. It has wires for attachment and is valued at $75.

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Federations, Associations, and Alliances 

We begin this two-part article with the international and national organizations that were instrumental in shaping the structure and the range of services that the local clubs provided.  Many of the automobile clubs in this article show affiliation with one or more of the following organizations and have their initials displayed on the local club badges:

 • A.I.T. – The Alliance Internationale de Tourisme was founded in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, in 1898. This organization began life as the Ligue Internationale des Associations Touristes (L.I.A.T.) and focused on touring support. Following World War I, the L.I.A.T. was renamed A.I.T. and continued to support the tourist industry.

• A.I.A.C.R. – The Association Internationale des Automovile Clubs Reconnus (International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs) was founded in Paris, France, in 1904, and was renamed F.I.A., or the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (International Automobile Federation) in 1946. The organization’s main focus is motorsports, with involvement in road assistance, touring, insurance and safety.

• F.I.A.C. – The Federación Interamericana de Automóvil Clubs was founded in Mexico City, Mexico, in 1941. The F.I.A.C. is the central organization of automobile clubs in South America, and it focuses on motorsports and touring. The organization was also involved in the Pan-American Highway and the economic development of South America.

• F.I.T.A.C. – La Federación Interamericana de Touring y Automóvil Clubes changed its name from the F.I.A.C. around 1950 when touring clubs were admitted.

These organizations helped to provide standardization and promoted collaboration among automobile clubs to develop motoring infrastructure, meet the daily needs of motorists, facilitate international touring and general travel, and regulate motorsport. Each of these organizations has a rich history and could be the subject of its own standalone article.  
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The Federación Interamericana de Automóvil Clubs (F.I.A.C.) was founded in 1941 to promote motorsports and tourism between South American automobile clubs as well as to promote the Pan-American Highway. The badge is 3.125" diameter with a copper color finish, fired-on enamel color, and mounting tabs on the back. It dates from the 1940s, has an inscription “Al Señor Presidente De La República Oriental Del Uruguay Dr Juan Jose Amezaga,” and is valued at $300.

The La Federación Interamericana de Touring y Automóvil Clubes (F.I.T.A.C.) badge dates from the 1950s to the 1960s. The name changed from the Federación Interamericana de Automóvil Clubs (F.I.A.C.) to the F.I.T.A.C. after touring clubs joined the organization. The badge measures 3.125" diameter with a gold color finish, fired-on enamel color, and mounting tabs on the back, and is valued at $125.

The Association Internationale des Automovile Clubs Reconnus (A.I.A.C.R.) was founded in 1904 and renamed Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (F.I.A.) in 1946. The organization is focused primarily on motorsports activities. The badge measures 3.125" diameter with a gold color finish and fired-on enamel color. The Swiss maker’s mark, Haguenin, can be seen on the front, and it is valued at $300.

The Asociación Nacional Automovilística (ANA) was founded in 1924 as an automobile service club in Mexico to support motorists’ needs. The badge is made of brass, measures 5.25"x4.25", and has four holes for mounting with radiator wires. It dates from the 1920s to the 1930s and is valued at $350.

Mexico, Central America, and Panama

While there are no official nationwide service clubs like the American Automobile Association (AAA) in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, there are national clubs in Mexico, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, and the AAA operates in Panama. The early club badges can be difficult to find due to low membership numbers and limited use by the clubs. Roadbuilding and infrastructure to support automobile travel were slow to develop and were largely driven by the tourism industry that arose during the 1920s and 1930s. Touring club badges can be found in greater numbers than national roadside assistance clubs thanks to promotional efforts by the touring industry.

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This AAA Panama badge is from the 1920s to early 1930s. The United States administered the Canal Zone, an area approximately 10 miles wide and 50 miles long, from 1914 until the 1977 treaties were signed. That started a phased transfer of control of the Zone to the Panama Canal Authority that was completed in 1999. The badge was produced by L.F. Grammes & Sons, Inc., Allentown, Pennsylvania. It measures 3"x4.5", and is made from nickel-plated copper with fired-on colors. It would have been mounted with a rod through the radiator, and is valued at $300

The Asociación Mexicana Automovilística (AMA) was founded in 1936 in Mexico City with the goal of creating a central organization to support local clubs. The badge is made from steel with fired-on enamel color and measures 4.875"x3.25". It has holes on each side for mounting, dates from the 1930s to 1940s and is valued at $150.

The Automóvil Club de Costa Rica was founded in 1955. The badge is made from chrome-plated brass with paint and is designed to mount on a license plate attachment or bumper. It measures 4.375"x7", and is valued at $100.

Conclusion: The clubs represented in this article are by no means all-inclusive. There are many more examples to be found, and one can also add the Caribbean countries and their associated car clubs.  

Part II will focus on the many clubs in the South American countries and their activities.
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Stay Safe and Keep on Collecting!  
John & Henri Boggs
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If you'd like to read Part II of this story, go here: https://www.automobiliaresource.com/automotive-badges/south-american-car-club-badges-part-ii