Darmont
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Robert Darmont, André Darmont |
| Defunct | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Courbevoie , France |
| Products | Three-wheeled automobiles, Four-wheeled automobiles |
Darmont () was a French car manufacturer located in Courbevoie, close to Paris, operating between 1919 and 1939.
The company
Robert Darmont initially started his business during World War I by importing three-wheeled vehicles from the English firm Morgan. Following the war, he collaborated with his brother André to launch an automobile production enterprise in Courbevoie. By 1921, they obtained authorization to manufacture Morgan three-wheelers domestically under licence, resulting in the creation of the Darmont-Morgan, a faithful reproduction of the original model.
Until 1935, the firm specialized exclusively in three-wheeled automobiles. That year marked the debut of their first four-wheeled vehicle, the V-Junior. However, with the outbreak of World War II, Darmont was forced to cease operations due to bankruptcy.
Darmont-Morgan
The Darmont-Morgan was a near-identical copy of the Morgan three-wheeler, equipped with a front-mounted, air-cooled V-twin engine displacing 1084 cc. This configuration enabled a maximum speed close to 125 km/h (78 mph). By the time of the 1928 Paris Motor Show, Darmont's lineup included several Morgan-inspired three-wheelers powered by either air-cooled or water-cooled 1084 cc engines.
These models demonstrated competitive prowess by participating successfully in events such as the Mont Ventoux Rally and achieving prominent finishes in races like the 1921 Paris-Nice competition.
Darmont Spécial
Launched in 1926, the Darmont Spécial was equipped with a water-cooled V-twin engine capable of reaching speeds up to 150 km/h (93 mph). Over the course of the 1930s, this initially simple vehicle evolved into more refined and upscale editions.
Its close relative, the Darmont Étoile de France introduced in 1932, shared many design aspects with the Spécial model.
Darmont V Junior
The Darmont V Junior, unveiled in Autumn 1935, represented the company's sole venture into four-wheeled automobiles. It maintained the familiar approximately 1100 cc V-twin engine derived from their three-wheeler lineup. The car also incorporated traditional features such as a hand-controlled throttle mounted on the steering wheel, reflecting its connection to the fading cyclecar tradition.