Amilcar is a French automotive company that produced cars (mostly sports) cars from 1921 to 1940. From September 1937 became the property of the concern « Hotchkiss ».
Amilcar | |
---|---|
Base | 1921 |
Abolished | |
Founders | Joseph Lamy , Emil Acar |
Location | France , Saint-Denis |
Key figures | Andre Morel |
Industry | engineering |
Products | sports cars, trucks |
Affiliated companies | |
The name is an anagram of the names of the founders Joseph Lamy and Emil Akar .
Content
History
The company was originally located in the XI arrondissement of Paris, in the house of 34 Shmen-Ver. However, the available space soon became insufficient and in the middle of 1924 the plant moved to the north, in the suburb of Saint-Denis .
The first product of the company was the double motorcycle car CC (4-cylinder lower valve engine (with lateral arrangement of valves) with a volume of 903 cm ³, 3-speed gearbox , wheelbase 2320 mm, maximum speed of 75 km / h) presented at the Parisian motor show in October 1921. The visual resemblance to the cars of the brand "Le Zèbre" was explained by the fact that one of the designers of Amilcar, Edmond Moyet, had previously worked there.
The popularity of this model (and some features of subsequent constructions) was influenced by the then tax policy (a fixed tax, established in accordance with the law of July 30, 1920, in the amount of 100 francs per year for a two-seater with a dry weight not exceeding 350 kg and an engine size no more than 1100 cm ³). This law was valid until 1925.
A car called CO was released in 1922 , about a year after its foundation. The car looked like a sporty coupe , weighed about 350 kg, and its 0.9-liter engine developed power up to 18 hp. The car was in high demand due to its low cost and was successfully sold for 3 years.
Then, the production of two new models was started: a sports CS with a short wheelbase and a 4-seater family-friendly C4 , both with a motor capacity of 1004 cm³, and lubrication by spraying.
One of the most famous was the CGS (“ Châssis Grand Sport ”) debuted at the 1923 Motor Show with an engine of 1074 cm³, all-wheel drive brakes (own design) and, due to weight restrictions, without a differential . This model and its improved version of the CGSS ( Châssis Grand Sport Surbaissé ) released three years later under license were also produced in other countries under the trademarks: [1]
- Austria 1922–1927 - Grofri , also 1924–1925 - Österreichische Amilcar-Automobil
- Germany 1924–1927 - Pluto
- Italy 1925–1928 - Amilcar Italiana . The plant in Lecco opened under a contract with Meo Constantini and Eugenio Sylvani (monthly production of about 100 cars) in 1926 was transferred to the Verona company Società Industriale Lombardo Veneta Automobili (SILVA), which continued production until 1928, until the advantages of the Fiat 509 were forced to close. [2]
In 1928 , a new generation of Amilcar cars debuted, consisting of various modifications that lasted until 1935 .
Auto racing participation
In the early to mid-1920s, Amilcar actively participated in various automotive competitions; The company's honor was defended by the famous racer Andre Morel . In 1922 he won the Bol d'or race (and took 2nd place in 1925). Racing versions of serial cars were equipped with a 1,100 cm ³ engine with two camshafts in the cylinder head, supercharging and crankshaft roller bearings . In a similarly modified C6 car, André Lefevre won the Monte Carlo rally in 1927. The main rival in the sport was the company Salmson , its superiority provided more advanced engines. The next victory in the Bol d'or "Amilcar" was won only in 1933 (racer Jean de Gabardi), alas, the last time in the history of the company.
Activity
Interestingly, the main consumers of Amilcar cars were bootleggers and gangsters. They were attracted by the low weight of the car, coupled with its spaciousness and dynamics. As of 1939 , about 7,000 pieces of the M-Type 3 and M-Type 1 models were sold.
Financial difficulties and loss of independence
In the late 1920s, the company decided to expand its range somewhat, moving from the production of economical small cars and sports cars to "ordinary" cars, but did not achieve much success.
For example, in 1925, the Amilcar G tourer was launched, and in 1928 a similar Amilcar M with a 1200 cm³ engine followed, followed by the M2, M3, and M4 models. The release of this series coincided with a period of financial crisis, lasted until 1934, and sales - until 1935.
In the same year 1928, the C8 was launched with an inline 8-cylinder 2.3-liter engine, which turned out to be not very reliable and therefore quickly removed; its release was only a few hundred.
The founders of the company, who were increasingly retiring from business management, in 1931 had to conclude an agreement with Andre Brie and Marcel Sae, who headed the company Sofia ( Societe financiere pour l'automobile ), which, after the economic crisis of the early 1930s, Amilcar lost its independence, although it continued to manufacture cars under its original brand. It is noteworthy that prior to his dismissal in January 1929, Se worked in executive positions at Amilcar and, thus, knew the company from the inside.
However, by itself, the transition to new owners did not solve the problems with finances and by the end of August 1934 had to close the plant in Saint-Denis. A qualitatively new model was required, which was presented in October 1934 by Amilcar Pégase with 2150 cm³ (12CV) 4-cylinder engine from Delahaye . Pegasus also had a racing version with a motor of 2,490 cm³ (14CV).
In October 1935, the release of small cars and Pegasus, produced by the plant in Boulogne-Billancourt , was the only model represented by the company. Now its new leadership was forced to seek support, which was found at the Hotchkiss company, shortly before the described events, which bought a large number of shares of the holding company Sofia.
Hotchkis' own problems, in part, were also of a political nature: weapons factories, which brought considerable profits, were nationalized by the left government of Leon Blum; on the other hand, among the middle-class car manufacturers there were too many more successful competitors who offered, for example, Peugeot 402 and Citroën Traction Avant . [2]
The head of the automobile department of Hotchkiss, Henry Mann Ainsworth, prepared for release a promising prototype proposed by the designer Jean-Albert Gregoire (at that time using the base from the Adler) of a 7CV class family car. According to the results of the merger agreement reached with Amilcar, this car became known as Amilcar Compound . [2]
The front-wheel-drive "Compound" with a bearing light alloy body and independent suspension somewhat outpaced the capabilities of its time, so its production began only in October 1937 and amounted to only 584 (out of 681) cars produced by 1939, and another 64 copies managed to leave the factory before beginning of the German offensive in May-June 1940.
Tests of an improved version of this model (with an engine capacity of 1340 cm3 instead of 1185) continued throughout the summer of 1939, and in October it was to appear before the public at the Paris Motor Show. However, the salon was canceled, and the start of serial production was postponed, as it turned out later - forever. [4]
Under the influence of the conditions of the Second World War, the leadership had to forget about the serial production of sports cars and switch to the production of trucks for military needs. In 1941 , Amilcar ended its existence. After the war, his activity was not resumed.
Lineup
- 1921 CC
- 1922 CS
- 1922 C4
- 1923 type E
- 1923 CGS and CGS3 (Grand Sport)
- 1925 type G
- 1925 CO
- 1926 CGSS (Châssis Grand Sport Surbaissé)
- 1927 C6
- 1928 Amilcar M
- 1929 Amilcar C8
- 1929 CS8
- 1930 Amilcar C8 bis
- 1932 M2
- 1934 Pégase
- 1938 Compound or B38 sedan, produced from 1938 to 1940.
Literature
- Gilles Fournier, Amilcar, Paris, Rétroviseur, 1994 ( ISBN 2-84078-022-4 , OCLC 34727205)
References
- ↑ Amilcar CGSs
- Thomas Studio Thomas Simon, Francesina Made (Italy) , Ruoteclassiche Marzo 2003, Editoriale Domus, Rozzano (MI), pagg. 96-97
Links
- History of car brand Amilcar
- History of the brand Amilcar
- Club Cercle Pégase Amilcar
- Amilcar - Lezebre.eu
- Amilcar - Histomobile.com
- Amilcar - Gazoline.net
- All Results of Amilcar (1922-1952) - RacingSportsCars