Leyat
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1919 in Paris, France |
| Founder | Marcel Leyat |
| Defunct | 1925 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Automobiles (Hélica and other propeller-driven cars) |
Leyat, also known as Automobiles Leyat, was a French car manufacturer established in 1919 in Paris by the engineer and inventor Marcel Leyat.
The firm's hallmark creation, the Hélica, often referred to as 'The wingless airplane', presented an innovative layout with passengers seated in a single row, similar to an aircraft cabin. Instead of traditional wheels, it was propelled by a large rear-mounted propeller powered by an Scorpion engine. Its body, constructed from lightweight plywood, weighed merely 250 kg (550 lb), allowing it to attain remarkable speeds.
The manufacturing facility was situated on the Quai de Grenelle in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.
Marcel Leyat
Marcel Leyat (March 26, 1885 – December 3, 1986) was an engineer, inventor, and pioneer in aviation. After graduating from École Centrale Paris in 1907, he contributed to Société Astra, where he worked on early glider and propeller-driven aircraft designs. Initially focused on aviation innovations, Leyat later transitioned into automobile production. During the First World War, he developed several aircraft models, including a "living wing" bomber, and created approximately thirty different designs up until the Second World War.
Description
The propulsion system of the Hélica was distinguished by its large propeller mounted at the rear, driven by an 8 bhp (6.0 kW) engine. Steering was accomplished through the rear wheels. The vehicle’s agility and low weight were largely due to its plywood framework.
Performance
In 1927, the Hélica achieved speeds of up to 106 mph (171 km/h) at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, demonstrating its impressive capabilities. Leyat continued to develop the model by experimenting with different propeller blade designs to improve both speed and efficiency.
Production
From 1919 until 1925, Leyat produced and sold a total of 30 automobiles.
Vehicle models
- 1913: Helicocycle – three wheels, JAP engine, single prototype
- 1915: Hélicocycle version 2 – three wheels, single prototype
- 1919: Hélica – four wheels, MAG engine, six units produced
- 1921: Leyat propeller car – four wheels, ABC engine, ten sedans and three sport cabriolets manufactured
- 1925: Rail/road draisine built for Congo mining director – single unit
- 1927: Record model – three wheels, ABC engine, one unit; reached 170 km/h at Montlhéry circuit
Literature
- G. N. Georgano: The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 2: G–O. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1
- G. N. Georgano: Complete Automobile Encyclopedia. 1885 to Our Times. Courtille, Paris 1975