Barré (automobile)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | December 1899 |
| Founder | Gaston Barré |
| Defunct | 1930 |
| Fate | Closed |
| Headquarters | Niort, France , France |
Area served | Western France |
Key people | Gaston Barré (founder) |
| Products | Automobiles |
Number of employees | 50 (1908) |
Barré was a French car manufacturer established by Gaston Barré in Niort. While some accounts suggest the company began operations in 1900, its inaugural vehicle was unveiled at the December 1899 Paris Motor Show. The enterprise discontinued production in 1930.
Gaston Barré
Gaston Barré, born on 25 June 1864 in Cholet, relocated to Parthenay in 1888 where he worked as a gunsmith. By 1894, he had launched a business in Niort focused on manufacturing and renting bicycles during the height of France’s cycling craze. As his prosperity increased, he transitioned his efforts from cycles to motor vehicles.
Automobile production
The first Barré automobile, equipped with a engine, made its debut in December 1899.
Barré was innovative in establishing dedicated after-sales service centers and incorporating a driving school within his business framework. His manufacturing approach depended largely on procuring specialized parts—such as engines from Aster, Buchet, and De Dion-Bouton, along with axles and gears—from external manufacturers rather than producing them internally. On occasion, chassis were even acquired from rival firms.
At the 1900 World Fair in Paris, a Barré voiturette earned a gold medal. By 1908, the company operated under the name G. Barré et Cie with a workforce of approximately 50 employees. In 1912, Barré automobiles achieved top three finishes in the French Tour de France Automobile, a rigorous multi-stage race spanning over 4,000 kilometers.
Location
In the early 1900s, the French automotive industry was predominantly concentrated around Paris and Lyon, with few exceptions such as Peugeot. Barré distinguished itself by locating its manufacturing facility in the modest town of Niort in western France, targeting sales mainly within this rural area. By 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War, Barré offered a complete lineup of vehicles. The brand's heritage remains recognized locally through the lycée Gaston Barré (Le lycée des Métiers de l’Automobile et de la Logistique de Niort).
The First World War and its aftermath
During the First World War, Gaston Barré transferred the company’s registered office to its Paris showroom while the Niort factory shifted production to artillery shells and military vehicles. After the war, initial models featured engines sourced from Paris-based suppliers Ballot and S.C.A.P.
At the October 1919 Paris Motor Show, Barré introduced two models: the 10 HP/CV “Barré Type BA” with a 1,590 cc engine and the 12 HP/CV “Barré Type AB2” powered by a 2,292 cc engine. The smaller model was a two-seat “Torpedo” with a 2600 mm wheelbase priced at 13,000 francs. The larger Type AB2 came with either “Torpedo” or “conduite intérieure” (saloon) body styles on a 2940 mm wheelbase, costing between 16,000 and 18,000 francs. Both vehicles remained essentially unchanged since before the war.
The 1920s
Throughout the 1920s, Barré retained a devoted clientele primarily within western France. At the 19th Paris Motor Show in October 1924, three four-cylinder models were displayed:
- “Barré Type B4” delivering 8/10 HP with a 1,685 cc engine and a wheelbase of 2950 mm
- “Barré Type AS” offering 10/12 HP from a 2,356 cc engine with a wheelbase of 3090 mm
- “Barré Type CS” producing 12/16 HP powered by a 2,803 cc engine on a 3090 mm wheelbase
Prices for “Torpedo” body versions were set at 23,000; 25,000; and 26,500 francs respectively. Despite this diverse selection, post-war output never fully recovered its pre-war vigor, resulting in gradual decline until final closure between 1930 and 1933.
External links
- Automobiles Barré featured on Deux Sèvres Auto Mémoire
- Barré automobile manufacturing plant listed on the Poitou-Charentes industrial heritage portal