Villard was a French automobile manufacturer between 1925 and 1935.[1]
 | |
| Founded | 1925 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1935 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Automobiles Cyclecars |
Beginnings
editThe first 4HP Villard was constructed in 1923.[2] It appeared to be a late-comer to the Cyclecar boom that had followed the First World War.[1] It had only three wheels, with the single wheel, at the front, providing both the traction and the steering.[2] The wheelbase was of 1,850 mm (72.8 in) and the two-stroke engine of 345cc.[2]
Launch
editThe car made its public debut in October 1924 at the 19th Paris Motor Show, priced by the manufacturer at 4,950 francs.[2] In 1925 the Société des Automobiles Villard was registered.
Middle period
editFour years later the vehicle on the show stand at Paris was again a three wheel cycle car with a 1,850 mm (72.8 in) wheelbase and a single cylinder two-stroke engine, but the engine capacity was now given as 350cc.[3] Many of these little three-wheeler cyclecars used bodies adapted for use as small delivery vans.[1]
Later years
editIn 1927 a small number of four wheeled cars were produced: these used a chain drive to deliver power to the front wheels. Now a 500cc V4-cylinder was also available.
Reading list
edit- Harald Linz, Halwart Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie. United Soft Media Verlag, München 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8. (German)
- George Nick Georgano (Chefredakteur): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 2: G–O. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1. (Englich)
- George Nick Georgano: Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris 1975. (French)
Sources and notes
edit- ^ a b c Georgano, Nick (1968). The Complete Encyclopaedia of Motorcars 1885-1968. London: George Rainbird Ltd for Ebury Press Limited. p. 586.
- ^ a b c d "Automobilia". Toutes les Voitures Françaises 1925 (Salon [Oct] 1924). Vol. 72s. Paris: Histoire & collections. 2005. p. 80.
- ^ "Automobilia". Toutes les Voitures Françaises 1929 (Salon [Oct] 1928). Vol. 84s. Paris: Histoire & collections. 2006. p. 81.
