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Chenard-Walcker

From Alfawiki
Chenard-Walcker
Company typePublic
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1898; 128 years ago (1898)
FounderErnest Chenard, Henri Walcker
Defunct1946
Headquarters
Asnières-sur-Seine (until 1906), Gennevilliers (from 1906)
,
France
Area served
France
ProductsAutomobiles, commercial vehicles, trucks
ParentSociété des usines Chausson (from 1936)

Chenard-Walcker, sometimes referred to as Chenard & Walcker, was a French manufacturer specializing in automobiles and commercial vehicles from 1898 until 1946. Subsequently, the firm shifted focus to designing and producing trucks, which were distributed via Peugeot's sales network up through the 1970s. Originally located in Asnières-sur-Seine, the production facility was relocated to Gennevilliers in 1906. The marque is particularly renowned for securing victory in the first-ever Le Mans 24 Hours Race held in 1923.

History

In 1898, Ernest Chenard (1861–1922), an engineer with experience in railways and bicycle manufacturing operating out of Asnières-sur-Seine, joined forces with mining engineer Henri Walcker (1877–1912) to begin producing motorized tricycles. Their automotive enterprise was officially established on 19 January 1899,[1] with Chenard overseeing engineering and Walcker handling marketing and financial matters. The company was formally registered as Chenard, Walcker et Compagnie in 1900. They initially produced a quadricycle but swiftly introduced their first genuine automobile, the "Chenard et Walcker Type A," which was equipped with a two-cylinder engine and featured a novel transmission system. This vehicle was presented at the 1901 Paris Salon. The "Type B" model followed later that year,[1] allowing for expansion of their automotive lineup.[2]

The firm became publicly traded in March 1906 under the name Société Anonyme des Anciens Étabissements Chenard et Walcker and moved operations to a new factory in Gennevilliers by 1908.[3] Both "Chenard-Walcker" and "Chenard et Walcker" were used as brand names. By 1910, annual production surpassed 1,500 vehicles, placing the company ninth among French automakers, with a notable share of the Parisian taxi market. In 1913, they introduced a six-cylinder model; by the onset of World War I, their offerings included engines ranging from four to six cylinders with displacements between 2.4 and 5 liters.

During the First World War, Chenard-Walcker manufactured Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines along with military adaptations of their Type U automobile.[4] After hostilities ceased, production resumed featuring the six-cylinder Model UU alongside a new four-cylinder 12CV model launched in 1920. Additionally, they produced FAR-branded commercial vehicles. Following Ernest Chenard’s passing in 1922, leadership transitioned to his son Lucien Chenard (1896–1971).[3]

The 3-liter model released in 1922, engineered by Henri Toutée (1884–1943), incorporated an overhead camshaft engine and earned victory at the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1923, piloted by company engineers René Léonard and André Lagache. Subsequently, a commercially available 2-liter variant known as the 10/12 was introduced.

By 1925, Chenard et Walcker had risen to become France’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturer.[3] In 1927, it entered into a three-way alliance with Delahaye and Rosengart, collaborating on design and component sharing.[5] Unic opted not to participate.[4] This partnership persisted until 1931 when Chenard et Walcker withdrew due to operational challenges.[6]

In 1934, certain models adopted front independent suspension and front-wheel drive based on Jean-Albert Grégoire’s designs for the Super Aigle series; however, these innovations struggled commercially because their higher price points could not compete effectively against rivals like the Citroën Traction Avant. That same year saw the introduction of the V-8 powered Aigle 8 model.

Decline

Due to inadequate funding for modernization, Chenard & Walcker continued producing mostly handcrafted vehicles, resulting in uncompetitive pricing. The company declared bankruptcy in 1936 and was subsequently acquired by the coachbuilder Chausson. The 1938 lineup featured bodies shared with Matford, differing primarily in their radiator grille designs, and were powered by either Citroën or Ford V-8 engines. Although there were intentions to refresh the "Aigle 22CV" model for 1939 with a slanted grille, these plans never came to fruition, and manufacturing ended by 1939 or 1940. An advertisement promoting their Matford-based models appeared in a Swiss automotive publication in April 1940; however, it is believed the company was merely selling leftover inventory rather than producing new cars.

The war years

Following France’s involvement in World War II in 1939 and the German occupation in 1940, shortages of raw materials and fuel severely disrupted civilian manufacturing. In that year, Chenard & Walcker unveiled a prototype light van ambulance designed for military use, initiating their series of forward control light vans.[7] By 1941, this van became available to the public, equipped with a compact two-stroke water-cooled engine positioned centrally between the driver and passenger seats, offering just enough power for its payload.[7] Due to fuel scarcity for civilians by 1942, an electric variant was introduced by Sovel.[7] While Chenard & Walcker ceased as an independent vehicle manufacturer shortly afterward, this van model persisted. In the late 1940s, after Société des usines Chausson—the firm that had taken over Chenard—was itself acquired by Peugeot, the van incorporated the engine from the Peugeot 202. It was rebranded as the Peugeot D3 van in 1950.[7] The final vehicles bearing the Chenard badge were produced that same year.

Competition

Chenard-Walcker claimed victory at the first-ever 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans race with their Type U 15CV Sport models. Car number 9, piloted by André Lagache and René Léonard, secured first place after completing 128 laps. Their second car, number 10, finished four laps behind in second place, while car number 11 achieved seventh overall. All three competed within the 3.0-litre class, occupying first, second, and fourth positions respectively. Together, they completed a total of 362 laps—surpassing all other manufacturers participating in the event.

Tracteurs FAR

FAR was a French commercial vehicle manufacturer linked to Chenard-Walcker, established in 1919 and ceasing operations in 1970. Co-founded by André Lagache, who won the 1923 Le Mans driving a Chenard-Walcker car, FAR specialized in trucks. Among its notable products was the licensed production of the 'Pony Mécanique', a three-wheeled articulated tractor unit featuring automatic coupling for swift trailer changes. Produced under license from Britain's Scammell between 1937 and 1970, FAR models were powered by the engine from the Citroën Traction Avant.

Major models

  • 14/16 1905
  • Type M 1907
  • Type N 1907
  • Type P 1910
  • Type U 15CV 1913
  • Type UU 1919
  • Type U 12CV 1920
  • Type TT 1922
  • 3-litre 1922
  • 10/15CV 1924
  • 12/25CV 1924
  • 22CV Straight 8 1924
  • 14CV 1929
  • Y6 1929
  • 8CV 1931
  • Super Aigle 4 1934
  • Aiglon 1934
  • Aigle 4S 1934
  • Aigle 8 1934
  • Aigle 20 1938
  • Aigle 22 1938

Additional resources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Automobilia1920
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Georgano
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Beaulieu
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Automobile
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Automobilia1929
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Automobilia1932
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Automobilia1940-46
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