Autobleu

Autobleu
Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive components, automobile manufacturing
Founded	January 1950; 76 years ago
Founder	Maurice Mestivier, Roger Lepeytre
Defunct	1971 (parts manufacturing ceased)
Fate	Ceased parts manufacturing in 1971; successor company Nantes Echappement Cintrage Autobleu liquidated in 2009
Successor	Nantes Echappement Cintrage Autobleu (1997–2009)
Headquarters	Paris, France
Area served	Primarily France
Key people	Maurice Mestivier, Roger Lepeytre, Roger Normier
Products	Intake and exhaust manifolds, bespoke vehicles, engine upgrade kits

Autobleu was a Paris-based French manufacturer specializing in automotive components, particularly intake and exhaust manifolds. The company also created a small range of bespoke vehicles derived from models of well-known carmakers.

History

Established in January 1950 by Maurice Mestivier—an ex-mechanic and racing driver for Amilcar—alongside Roger Lepeytre, a Peugeot agent and Secretary General of l'AGACI, Autobleu operated out of 15 rue Aumont-Thiéville, located in Paris’s 17th arrondissement. Early in its development, the firm welcomed mechanic Roger Normier to its staff.

Autobleu initially gained recognition by producing performance parts tailored for French automobiles, focusing largely on the widely popular Renault 4CV. This led to the company becoming a principal supplier of components to Renault. Between 1953 and 1957, Autobleu manufactured customized vehicles, culminating in a final prototype presented in 1967. The parts manufacturing segment persisted until 1971. At its height, the firm delivered as many as 120 manifolds daily to Renault and produced approximately 200,000 manifolds fitted to cars such as the Renault R8 Gordini and various Alpine models.

Additionally, Autobleu briefly produced licensed Abarth components.

In 1997, Nantes Echappement Cintrage Autobleu was formed to manufacture exhaust systems but ceased operations following liquidation in 2009.

By 2022, reproduction Autobleu components became available through Mecaparts, which acquired the manufacturing rights.

Auto parts and kits

Autobleu’s core offerings were intake and exhaust manifolds predominantly designed for Renault vehicles, commonly known as "le pipe Autobleu." Their manifold series encompassed models such as Racer, Record, Rallye, Monza, Mille Miles, Sebring, Stelvio, and Veloce—with particular variants crafted for specific vehicles—for instance, the Veloce II suited the Renault Dauphine, the Veloce 16 matched the Renault 16, and the Veloce ID was intended for the Citroën ID 19.

The company supplied components for Renault’s factory performance editions like the Renault 4CV 1063. These enhancements were also marketed as kits through SAPRAR (Société anonyme de Pièces, Réparations et Accessoires Renault). Another significant use was on the Renault 4CV "Pie" police model, adopted by law enforcement agencies beginning in 1962.

The Dauphine 1093 performance variant incorporated Autobleu parts including the Veloce II manifold. Unlike the 4CV 1063, this model was only available fully assembled rather than in kit form. The engine modifications garnered praise from Robert LaMaison, Renault’s sales director for the United States market, who ensured that American Dauphines featured identical Autobleu components under the Amélioration "Grand Tourisme" ("Grand Touring" upgrade) program. These manifolds were eventually withdrawn from the US market to cut expenses.

Beyond manifolds, Autobleu manufactured cast aluminum sumps and developed a steering rack with a high-ratio pinion to minimize steering turns between lock positions. They also offered a conversion kit transforming floor-shift Dauphines into column-shift models and introduced a quad-headlamp upgrade for the R8 in 1964—preceding Renault’s official adoption of this design by one year.

Their comprehensive engine upgrade packages included the "Type 40," which featured an Autobleu "tête bleue" cylinder head, "Rocket" camshaft, Stelvio manifold, Solex 32 PICBT carburettor with air filter, a custom distributor, alloy rocker cover, and a dual-exit exhaust system—promising an output of approximately 40 hp.

Other uses

Autobleu manufactured manifolds for certain Renault tractor variants within the agricultural industry. Additionally, the company produced exhaust systems and manifolds for marine powerboat engines under the Autobleu Marine label, utilizing both Renault and Peugeot powerplants.

Autobleu Simca

Prior to its official founding in 1950, Autobleu developed a racing Special featuring cycle fenders called the Autobleu Simca in 1948. Constructed on a Simca 8 Type HS competition chassis and designed by Carrosserie Autobleu, this vehicle secured victory in the 1100 cc category and finished third overall at the 1949 Bol d'Or race. After competing in several events, it was sold to l'AGACI to serve as a training car at their Monthlèry racing school.

The car resurfaced in 1966 when purchased by Jacques Picard, who showcased it in his showroom for over three decades before it underwent restoration between 2000 and 2005.

Autobleu Renault 4CV

In May 1953, Autobleu unveiled a bespoke luxury coupé based on the Renault 4CV platform. Drawing inspiration from a Ghia design spotted at Cannes and developed in collaboration with Luigi Sègre and Felice Mario Boano of Carrozzeria Ghia, the prototype impressed Renault executives sufficiently to grant Autobleu access to their dealership network. Two examples were presented at the 1953 Paris Motor Show.

Retaining the original steel chassis and rear-mounted water-cooled engine of the 4CV, the initial powerplant was a 747 cc unit delivering 25 hp, enhanced by an Autobleu intake manifold paired with a Solex carburetor. Subsequent versions incorporated the larger 845 cc engine from the Dauphine model. The vehicle prioritized aesthetics over raw performance, reaching a maximum speed of approximately 115 km/h.

Notable styling elements included prominent air intakes positioned ahead of the rear wheel arches, a feature that later influenced design cues on the Renault Dauphine introduced in 1956.

Production commenced towards the end of 1953 but encountered setbacks due to tooling challenges; early attempts employing synthetic resin (rezolin) were unsatisfactory. Various coachbuilders such as Figoni et Falaschi and Carrosserie Pourtout crafted bodies before Henri Chapron assumed responsibility in 1956 and introduced a convertible variant. Figoni also adapted an Autobleu coupé rear section for use on the Simca 9 Sport Figoni model.

It is estimated that approximately eighty units of the Autobleu Renault 4CV were produced in total.

Autobleu Renault Frégate

Autobleu developed a single larger model based on the Renault Frégate chassis, styled by Boano within his own carrozzeria. This prototype was equipped with an Abarth-tuned engine coupled to a four-speed gearbox and made its public debut at the 1955 Turin Motor Show.

Autobleu Peugeot 204 GT

After Peugeot introduced its hardtop 204 model in 1965 followed by a cabriolet version in 1967, advertising professional Pierre Thiriot convinced Autobleu to craft a bespoke edition. Autobleu procured early cabriolet units and partnered with Pietro Frua’s carrozzeria to design a fastback coupé distinguished by four headlamps.

The car featured an upgraded 1130 cc XK engine tuned by Moteur Moderne with a 40 mm Weber carburetor, custom exhaust system, and manifolds, elevating output to 70 hp—a gain of roughly 32%. The Autobleu Peugeot 204 GT Frua Coupé was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1967 but did not proceed to production due to its high price point and competitive market conditions.

Karts

From 1960 to 1963, Autobleu manufactured racing karts equipped with single-cylinder Ydral Type H engines featuring horizontal cylinders.

Motor sports

Autobleu's exclusive factory racing vehicle, the 750 Mille Miles (MM), was developed specifically for the 1954 Mille Miglia. It incorporated a Renault Billancourt engine, tuned by Porsche and enlarged to 950 cc, producing 70 horsepower. The aerodynamic bodywork was crafted by aeronautical engineer Marcel Riffard and constructed by Carrosserie G.T.R. Piloted by Jean Sigrand and Jean Bianchi, the car withdrew from the race due to an accident in 1954; it later participated in the 1956 12 Hours of Reims, where it placed eleventh in its class and twenty-first overall.

Before the 750 MM, there was the Renault-Riffard, a small barquette produced between 1950 and 1954 on a Guépard chassis. It featured full-width "tank" style bodywork designed by Riffard and built by Heuliez. The vehicle was powered by a bored-out 904 cc 4CV engine fitted with an Autobleu cylinder head and utilized a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration.

External links

(F) AUTOBLEU – GTÜ Oldtimer Service (archived)