Automobiles Lambert
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Founder | Germain Lambert |
| Defunct | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Mâcon (1926), Reims (1931), Giromagny (1946) , France |
| Products | Automobiles, electric vehicles |
Lambert was a French car manufacturer established by Germain Lambert in 1926 in Mâcon. The company remained commercially limited and discontinued automobile production by the end of 1953.
Distinct from the earlier Parisian firm A. Lambert & Cie (1902–1906), Lambert initially equipped its vehicles with Ruby engines, debuting a front-wheel-drive model in 1931 followed by a single-cylinder cycle car in 1933. During the Second World War, the firm investigated electric vehicle technology. Germain Lambert, recognized as both an adept mechanic and motor racing aficionado, produced a small number of cars between 1926 and 1936 before redirecting his efforts.
In 1931, the company relocated to Reims, close to the center of French Grand Prix activity, and later managed an automotive repair shop near Sainte-Menehould. This workshop flourished sufficiently to enable Lambert to resume automotive manufacturing. By 1940, facing fuel shortages during the German occupation, Lambert developed a lightweight electric cycle car featuring a tubular chassis and wooden body weighing 150 kg, with an additional 75 kg for batteries powering a ½ hp motor. Although this model received homologation approval, production was halted due to its limited speed and unappealing aesthetics.
After moving operations to Giromagny in 1946, Lambert unveiled an avant-garde sports coupe at the 1948 Paris Motor Show, powered by a 1,087 cc Ruby engine. Postwar scarcity of steel combined with advancements in aluminium production led to the vehicle’s construction from aluminium with distinctive rear wheel fairings. While this initial version remained a prototype, it paved the way for a "competition" variant and subsequent models including the Simplicia cabriolet and Torino coupe introduced in 1951, followed by the Luxor cabriolet in 1952. Financial constraints compelled Lambert to liquidate his assets such as his workshop near Belfort, along with machinery, inventory, and personal residence. By 1953, the enterprise had ceased operations.
Although facing commercial challenges, Lambert attained significant motorsport achievements; notably, its 1100 model secured second place in its class at the 1951 Bol d'Or race and earned further victories in both 1952 and 1953.