Automotive history

I don't know how many books have been written and published about Ferrari cars. I'm quite sure that there are several hundreds of them and the production continues every year...

On the other hand, there are some important automobile manufacturers for which we are still waiting for a complete history: Darracq, Mors, Talbot, Delaunay Belleville, etc.

If you are interested by automobile history stay tuned, things may evolve in a near future...

To stay alert, here are three examples of obscure French cars.

Who remember the Arista? Not the ones built by Raymond Gaillard in the 50s-60s but the ones built in a small workshop located 140 boulevard Pereire in Paris from 1912 to end of December 1913 when the company was declared in bakrupcy.
The founder of the automobiles Arista was Pierre-Aristide Ruffier. In 1912 no less than four different models where proposed: a 6 HP priced 2500 F., a four-cylinder 8 HP for 4000 F., a 10 HP for 5000 F. and a 12 HP.

What about the HL built in Saint Cloud? Voiture automobile légère, the factory... well, the workshop  was located quai du Président Carnot but who was the owner of this small society ? Interesting car with what is looking as front independent suspensions.

The last example is this Bedelia like car built by a certain Henri Dupuy from l'Ile-Bouchard in the department of Indre & Loire.

Ford T.A.G.A.

At the end of World War I, quite a lot of vehicles that came with the American Army were available on the second hand market. There were trucks, motorcycles and many types of cars from large Pierce Arrow or Cadillac to Ford T.

After four and half years of war, the French automobile industry had to reborn from hashes. André Citroën who produced weapons and shells during the war, decided to launch a new small car ; Louis Renault, whose factories mades trucks, tanks, aero engines, etc. resumed car production in 1918.

Albert-Marie Torchet de Gamaches, in 1921

Albert-Marie Torchet de Gamaches, who was a descendant from a noble French family, decided another way and his idea was to refurbish the numerous available second hand Ford T in a workshop located 45 rue Louis Blanc in Courbevoie, a suburb on West of Paris.
His company: the Ateliers A. Torchet de Gamaches built modified or "Frenchified" Ford as stated in the advertisements. These cars were named Ford T.A.G.A.

The modification consisted by installing a new body and a more angular nickeled radiator, by replacing the Ford carburetor with a French Solex, by changing the wheels with Michelin disk wheels.
Several models were available 4-seat tourer, 2-door sedan, taxi, delivery van...

To publicitise his cars, Albert Torchet de Gamaches participated to few sporting events such as the famous course de côte de Gaillon, the hill climb race of Gaillon in October 1st, 1921.

Albert Torchet de Gamaches at the wheel of his T.A.G.A. Ford tourer. Gaillon hill climb race 1 Oct. 1921

Mr Villain with a T.A.G.A. Ford 2-door sedan at the Gaillon hill climb race on 1 Oct. 1921

The price of the T.A.G.A was quite high compare to the regular Ford T, and few were sold.

On 20 January 1922, the company was declared bankrupted.

Albert Torchet de Gamaches then moved to Normandy, in Bagnoles de l'Orne, where he was appointed general manager of the Garage Anglo-French.

2-door sedan "Frenchified" T.A.G.A. Ford 1921

Les Automobiles Bellanger Frères

Robert and Pierre Bellanger founded the company of the Automobiles Bellanger frères on 21 July 1913. The society was located in Paris at 25 rue Marbeuf, close to the Champs Elysées.
The initial capital was of 1 million francs and less than one year later, on 16 April 1914, the capital was increased to 1.5 million francs.
The cars manufactured before WWI had a Daimler sleeve-valves engine and a Lanchester transmission.

In 1919, after the Great war, the car production resumed and used motors from Briscoe.

The masterpiece was the 50 HP, called the Super-Huit, a model that was produced from 1921 and used a v8 motor built by the factory. This engine was designed by engineer Laviolette, dimensions were 90 x 125 for a total capacity of 6.4 liter.
From 1922, the finance of the company became weak, the factory was rent to Peugeot.and then later-on sold to Lucien Rosengart who installed the production of his small 5 HP car.

Rabag, Lic. E. Bugatti, der Vollblüter

The Bugatti Brescia, was probably one of the best small sport cars of the early twenties. 

The 4 cylinder with 16 valve engine was very powerful and reliable. After the First World War, Bugatti had licence arrangements with Diatto in Italy, Crossley in England and Rabag in Germany.

The Rheinische Automobilbau AG, “Rabag”, was founded with a capital of 13 million marks on 3 December 1920 by the Funke Brothers. The head quarter was in Düsseldorf with a factory located in Mannheim where they built, under licence, Bugatti Type 22 and Type 23.

The Rabag were relatively popular in Germany and often seen in sport events.

In June 1925, the firm merged with AGA (Autogen Gas Akkumulator A.G.) from Berlin-Lichtenberg which produced the Dinos cars. But economic situation of the new society was not good, and in November 1925 it was declared in bankruptcy.

The car in the photograph is registered, IV-6760 in Chemnitz (Kreishauptmannschaft), Sachsen.

Renault Nerva Grand Sport by Kellner

This Renault Nerva Grand Sport has been bodied by Kellner in October 1935. 

The Nerva Grand Sport was the top model of the French manufacturer equipped with a straight eight cylinder engines (85 x 120). 

This car is the chassis ABM 3 #31 from 8 May 1935 that was renumbered  ABM 5 #75 on 13 November 1935. This is only Nerva Grand Sport  that was bodied by Kellner.

Kellner was one of the most famous French coach builders that was founded in 1861 by Georges Kellner. Very quickly it became very famous because of the high quality of its production. His two sons, Paul and Georges entered the society in 1890 that changed its name to "Kellner & Fils".

In 1906, a new factory of 25 000 m3 was erected in Billancourt and about 600 people were working there. During the 10s and the 20s,  that can be considered as the golden age for the coach builders, Kellner was one of the most prestigious.

In 1910, Georges Kellner retired and his the two sons, Paul and Georges, took full control of the society that changed to "Kellner Frères".

Jacques Kellner, the son of Georges, became associate in 1924 and the society change again to "Georges Kellner & fils", Paul sold his shares to his brother in 1919.

Kellner bodied many luxury cars among them one of the six Bugatti type 41 known as the Royale. Many cars from the French presidency were also bodied by Kellner.

Sixcyl by Ateliers Bréguet 1907

Few French airplanes constructors tried with more or less success to built automobiles. Gabriel Voisin is the most known. Being one of the first airplane manufacturer, Voisin became one of the main suppliers of the French army during WWI producing hundreds of aircrafts. After the war and because of a saturated market, Voisin stopped to build airplanes and became an important automobile manufacturers during the 20s.

Farman is another example with a quite similar history as Voisin. Starting with the construction of airplanes during WWI, Farman built luxury cars from 1919 to 1932.

It is less known that Bréguet, the famous airplane industrialist started with the construction of automobiles in 1907.
Actually the designer of the car was a certain Chenu who first built cars and aero engines and marketed them under his own name. In 1907, he subcontracted the construction of his cars to the Ateliers Bréguet.
Two models were available : a 30 HP and a 60 HP, both equipped with a 6 cylinder engine.

The name of the car was : Sixcyl and the address of the society was 10 rue Fontaine in Paris.
Chenu had a stand at the Paris motor show in October 1907 where the two models of cars were exhibited.

One 30 HP Sixcyl was planned to participate to the famous New-York to Paris race but certainly for financial reasons, the car never came to New-York.

Very few Sixcyl were built and none survived.

Mercedes Benz 540 K Offener Tourenwagen 1938

This Mercedes 540 K was exhibited at Berlin Motorshow in 1938. It was the second design for the Offener Tourenwagen body type, a very ample open tourer car that had quite a lot of room for five people.
Very rarely seen on a German car is the hood that disappears completely when down. There is a metal cover over the folded-down hood. The bumpers are also not the ones usually seen on the 540 K model. Priced 22 000 RM in 1939, only twelve 540 K Offener tourenwagen were built and quite surprising, among them, one was sold by the Parisian agent to a French customer.

Je suis venu en Voisin...

This chauffeur is proudly standing in front of his Voisin C7 Lumineuse.

With a small 4 cylinder engine, rated 10 HP in France, the C7 was available from 1924. The "Lumineuse" body was created in 1925 and was very innovative by many aspects:

- the lightweight construction with aluminum panels

- The sliding windows
- A third headlight mounted on the right side and at the rear of the body. The idea was to improve the driving condition during night without dazzle other drivers.

The result was this Art deco style body that was sold quite well.

Lorraine

This chauffeur can be proud of his Lorraine-Dietrich. The car is bodied as a "Roi des Belges"tourer and seems to be ready for a long journey on the French roads.
Initially from Luneville close to Nancy, France, the headque-arter is moved to Paris 1905 and a second factory in founded in 1907 in Argenteuil.

The Lorraine was a car with a good reputation.
The last model of personal car was the 20 CV that was produced in the first half of the 30's.

Beute auto...

Between mid 1940 and the D-day in June 1944, the German troops occupied, first the North -West half of France and from November 1942 the whole country.
It now quite well known that during this period many paintings, sculptures and different antics were either stolen or, in few cases, bought but at a very low price. It is less known that many cars were also took by the German Army.
Of course the latest models were the first choice with a clear preference for American cars such as Packard, Buick, Cadillac... and also the French most desirable models with the Delahaye 135, Delage D8, Bugatti T57...
In the enclosed pictures, it is a more humble sport car, probably French that has been discovered in a barn by few soldiers.
We haven't been able to identify the manufacturer of this car. Is it a Derby, a Lombard, a Rally ?
We are waiting for your suggestions.

Mercedes-Benz typ 630 from 1925

This Mercedes-Benz 24/100/140 PS typ 630 was one of the most luxury car built in Germany during the mid-20s.
With a straight 6 cylinder engine (94 x 150) of 6.2 l capacity, this motor developed 100 PS at 2800 rpm and 140 PS at 3100 rpm thanks to the compressor.
The 6 seat tourer was priced 26500 Reichmarks while at the same time, the small Opel "Laubfrosch" cost 4500 Reichmarks.
Competitor to the 630 was the Maybach W5 built in Friedrichshafen for the German manufacturers.

Brasier, le trèfle à quatre feuilles

Charles-Henri Brasier is born in Ivry-la-Bataille on March 9, 1864. Graduated, in 1883, from the famous Ecole des Arts et Métiers from Chalons en Champagne , his first job is drawer for Panhard & Levassor then to the Paris-Orléans railway company.
In 1895, he joined Mors where he is responsible for the conception of the petrol automobiles. Brasier designs Mors racing car that will win several races among them the Paris-Berlin in 1901.
En 1902, he left Mors and, with Georges Richard, they found the Society Richard-Brasier with a big factory in Ivry-Port and use as brand mark "Le trèfle à quatre feuilles" that has been registered by Richard in 1892.
June 17, 1904, Léon Théry is winner of the Coupe Gordon Bennett with a 4 cyl. 80 HP Brasier and this victory, in Germany, will have a very important impact in France.
Few months after this event, the two associates, Charles-Henri Brasier and Georges Richard, separate.
One year later, on July 15, 1905, for the second time Léon Théry is again winner of the Coupe Gordon Bennett that ran this year in France.
These two victories have an important impact on the production and sale of automobiles Brasier until 1914, the beginning of one of the most terrific event of the 20th century the first World War.

Darl'mat designed by Georges Paulin

Georges Paulin was a dentist but also car designer who worked on Lancia, Renault, Peugeot, Bentley.

This 302 Darl'mat cabriolet was presented at the concours of elegance in Cannes in 1937.

Henri-Labourdette Trèn-Car

Just after WWI,  Henri-Labourdette, the famous coachbuilder, created a small trailer called "Trèn-Car".
Trèn is phonetically trainer,  in English : to lug.
I think it was the first time that a trailer was proposed to automobilists and it was a quite expensive item.

On the above picture, we see a big De Dion Bouton coupé limousine from the early 20's, equipped with a Trèn-car.

It was possible to have the trailer equipped with luggage or, as below, with a dog cage.

Turcat Mery from Marseille

Founded by Léon Turcat and Simon Mery, Turcat, Mery & Cie was established in Marseille, 17 boulevard Michelet and they created their first automobile in 1899.
In 1901, they sold a license to Adrien de Turckheim who produced automobiles under the brand of de Dietrich in his Luneville factory .
After WWI, they had a showroom in Paris at 122 avenue des Champs Elysées.
This picture is from the mid 20s and show what is probably the factory "racing team". I haven't been able to identiy the different models, any information is welcome.

Farman A6B at the Chateau de Madrid

Many industrialist who produced different type of equipment, ammunition, airplanes, etc. during the Great War, once the war ended, became automobile manufacturer. We can mention André Citroën, Gabriel Voisin but also Hispano Suiza, Gnome Rhone, Fonck, etc.
Among them Henri and Maurice Farman, who were one of the major  airplane supplier to the War Minister during the war, decided to diverse their production to luxury cars.
A first model, the A6, was presented at Paris motor show in October 1919. It was followed by an upgraded version, the A6B with front wheel brakes available at the end of 1921.
This coupe de ville, a standard body built by Farman, is photographed in front of the Chateau de Madrid, an old mansion located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the West of Paris.

If you want to know more about the automobiles Farman, you can refer to a new book just published by ETAI.

Make something new out of something old...

At first sight, we could think this Rolls Royce is from the early 30's. The body, is a coupé chauffeur transformable but when checking closely, it seems that the it could be a landaulet with a kind of hard top covering the front seats and the rear doors. 

Headlamps are Marchal, the front bumper is a Cromos "Flèches d'argent" (silver arrow), both accessories  are from the late 20's.

Just behind the spare wheel, we can clearely see the hand brake level, meaning that it is actually a Silver Ghost model that has been rebodied in 1929/1930. The registration plate in RD7 is from Paris and dated  from January 1930. 

The coachbuilder plate is visible on the bottom of the chauffeur's door, from its shape we can guess it is either Franay or Belvallette. 

Delahaye 135 MS cabriolet Brandone

Concours of elegance at Cannes in 1939, Delahaye 135 MS cabriolet by Brandone

Brandone, probably the most talented coachbuilder from South of France, for this car, was definitely inspired  by Figoni & Falaschi. Look at the front bumper with the two parallel blades, the elegant line that starts at the top of the radiator and goes to the running board. A pretty nice cabriolet which won an award at the concours.

The dolce vita on the French Riviera, still for a short period...

Who could have imagine that 6 month after this pictures has been taken, the war is declared and in less than one year, the German army will occupy half of France in few weeks... One of the worst periods for Europe will begin and will last for four years.  

Lorraine B3-6 at La Baule

This very attractive roadster is a Lorraine model B3-6. These cars were built in Argenteuil, few miles from Paris. With a 3,445 cc (210.2 cu in) six cylinder engine,  overhead valves, hemispherical head, aluminium pistons, and four-bearing crankshaft, the B3-6 was a quite good car. For two consecutive years, 1925 and 1926, Lorraine won the famous endurance race, the 24 hours of Le Mans with a B3-6 tourer. Not a stock car, but the preparation was minimal.

It is seen here above, participating to the concours of elegance at La Baule, on the West coast of France in 1929.
This custom built body is, may be, from Gaston Grümmer, a quite famous coachbuilder from the era.

Another view of the same car, this time at a concours of elegance in Paris in June 1929.

Les automobiles Farman

This new book will be available in all good book shops by mid February.
Further details will be communicated soon.