Ballot (automobile)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Engine manufacturing |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Ernest Ballot, Julien Faivre |
| Defunct | 1932 |
| Fate | Acquired by Hispano-Suiza in 1931; ceased operations in 1932 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | International |
Key people | Ernest Ballot, Julien Faivre, Albert Ballot, Ernest Henry (engineer) |
| Products | Automobiles, Engines (marine, industrial, and automobile) |
| Parent | Hispano-Suiza (from 1931) |
Ballot was a French company originally specializing in engine manufacturing that produced automobiles between 1919 and 1932. Ernest Ballot earned a reputation as a dependable engine designer and played a key role in assisting Ettore Bugatti with his initial engine developments.
Origins
The enterprise was established in 1905 on Boulevard Brune in Paris by Ernest Ballot and Julien Faivre, with Ernest's brother Albert participating from the early stages. Having served as a naval officer, Ernest Ballot incorporated an "anchor" symbol into the vehicle emblems.
Prior to World War I, the workshop concentrated on producing marine and industrial engines, branching into automobile engine production around 1910–1911. In 1910, the firm was reorganized as Etablissements Ballot SA.
Sporting successes
Ernest Ballot’s passion for automobiles grew significantly in December 1918 after encountering René Thomas, the victor of the 1914 Indianapolis 500. Promptly, Ballot commissioned four 4.8-litre vehicles to compete in the 1919 Indianapolis 500, enlisting Swiss engineer Ernest Henry, renowned for his contributions to Peugeot’s successful 1914 Indy engines. During the 1919 event, Ballot cars achieved fourth and eleventh places; Thomas also secured second place at the 1919 Targa Florio.
Motivated by these achievements, Ballot returned for the 1920 Indianapolis 500, where Thomas finished second while other team cars placed fifth and seventh. American champion Ralph DePalma drove a Ballot to victory in the 1920 Elgin Trophy.
Further international accomplishments ensued: DePalma earned second place at the 1921 French Grand Prix, and French driver Jules Goux took third and won the first-ever Italian Grand Prix at Brescia in 1921 behind the wheel of a Ballot. Team leader Jean Chassagne achieved second place at Brescia and had earlier recorded the fastest BARC lap at Brooklands in 1920 driving a 4.9-litre Ballot. Additionally, a straight-eight-cylinder 4.9-litre Ballot competed in the 1921 French Grand Prix.
Road cars
Besides racing engines, Ballot manufactured various road engines installed in its own automobiles.
The inaugural Ballot road model was a 2-litre sports tourer launched in 1921. By 1923, the company unveiled the Ballot 2 LT along with its sportier version, the 2 LTS. At the 19th Paris Motor Show in October 1924, Ballot had cemented its reputation as a producer of high-performance, luxury-priced automobiles. The 2-litre sports tourer was equipped with a four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine of 1,994 cc mounted on a wheelbase. Prices started at 33,000 francs for the chassis alone, with a "Torpedo" body variant costing 46,000 francs.
Starting in 1927, Ballot transitioned to eight-cylinder engines to boost vehicle performance.
Final chapter
In 1931, ownership of Ballot passed to Hispano-Suiza. The brand quickly declined following this acquisition; its last model was essentially a rebadged Hispano-Suiza vehicle utilizing only a chassis supplied by Ballot. The company ceased all operations in 1932.
Main models
- 2LS: a sports automobile equipped with a 1944 cc four-cylinder engine featuring twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder
- 2LT: touring model incorporating a single-cam variant of the 2LS powerplant
- 2LTS: a more performance-oriented iteration of the 2LT
- RH: launched in 1927, this model utilized an eight-cylinder, single overhead camshaft engine with a displacement of 2874 cc
- RH3: produced between 1929 and 1932, this updated RH version came with a 3049 cc engine
- HS26: introduced following the Hispano-Suiza acquisition, also called the Hispano-Suiza Junior, powered by a six-cylinder engine of 4580 cc