Monopole (company)

Établissements Monopole
Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive components, Motorsport
Predecessor	Établissements SIM SA
Founded	1920 in Poissy, France
Founder	American investors (capital), Mr. Guerne (initial management)
Defunct	Brand discontinued in Europe late 1995 (as Floquet Monopole)
Fate	Acquired by Dana Incorporated in 1978; brand replaced by Perfect Circle by 1998; rights sold to licensee in Morocco; Dana sold European parts divisions to Mahle GmbH in 2007
Successor	Floquet Monopole Industrie de Précision (Morocco)
Headquarters	Poissy, France
Area served	Europe (historically), Africa (through licensee)
Key people	André Hémard (majority owner from 1937-38), Jean de Montrémy (CEO from 1944), Jean Hémard (production director)
Products	Pistons, piston rings, valves, engine parts, racing cars
Owner	Dana Incorporated (from 1978 until sale of parts divisions in 2007)
Parent	Dana Incorporated (1978–2007)

Établissements Monopole was a French company that specialized in manufacturing components for automobile engines. The firm also engaged in the design and competition of small-capacity endurance racing vehicles. After undergoing several mergers and acquisitions, the Monopole brand was discontinued in Europe but remains active in Africa through a former license holder.

History

The Swiss firm "Établissements SIM SA," located in Morges, operated foundry and machining facilities. In 1920, with capital from American investors, they established Établissements Monopole in Poissy, near Paris. The enterprise concentrated on producing pistons, piston rings, valves, and various engine parts, initially overseen by Mr. Guerne. The brand was commonly known as "Monopole-Poissy."

Between 1937 and 1938, André Hémard, a member of the Pernod distilling family, took majority control of the company. In 1944, he appointed his son-in-law Jean de Montrémy, previously employed by aeronautical parts manufacturer Bronze-Avia, as chief executive officer. By that time, Monopole counted Peugeot and Citroën among its customers. Jean Hémard held the role of production director, with other family members actively participating in management.

Following a merger with Floquet sparkplug company, the business adopted the name Floquet Monopole. The company further expanded by incorporating valve manufacturer Jeudy, gudgeon pin producer Marty, and piston maker Nova.

On 1 July 1963, Perfect Circle Corporation from Indiana became part of Dana Incorporated. Dana acquired Floquet Monopole in 1978. Although the Floquet Monopole brand continued to be used in Europe until late 1995, it was gradually replaced by Perfect Circle by 1998. A former licensee purchased the rights from Dana and founded Floquet Monopole Industrie de Précision in Fes, Morocco. Dana finalized the sale of its remaining European parts divisions to Mahle GmbH on 9 March 2007.

Monopole in racing

As CEO, de Montrémy utilized motorsport as a platform to develop products and enhance brand visibility, concentrating on small-displacement endurance categories that reflected practical applications. To support these endeavors, Écurie Monopole was created.

De Montrémy engineered the initial racing Monopole using a Simca 8 chassis and engine paired with lightweight aluminium bodywork; this vehicle debuted in 1947. By 1948, subsequent models incorporated bespoke lightweight chassis and participated at Le Mans, where de Montrémy alongside Eugène Dussous achieved twelfth place overall and secured first position in the S 1.1 class.

Family members such as de Montrémy and his brothers-in-law Jean and Pierre Hémard were involved in racing activities alongside drivers including Pierre and Robert Chancel, Pierre Flahault, Yvonne Simon, and Jean Vinatier.

In 1950, Panhard increased its indirect participation by providing components and technical assistance. Subsequently, Monopole developed a new racing car utilizing Panhard’s air-cooled flat-twin engine combined with a modified front-wheel-drive chassis derived from the Panhard Dyna X. Designed by Pierre Bourdereau, this compact barquette featured ponton-style full-width bodywork and adhered to Dyna X naming conventions.

By 1952, Monopole had achieved the notable distinction of winning both the Index of Performance and the eighteenth Biennial Cup for three consecutive years.

In 1953, Panhard initiated its own factory racing team led by Paul Panhard with Etienne de Valance as director, producing racing-specific models X88, X89, and VM5.

After the tragic 1955 Le Mans accident, Panhard withdrew from direct competition in 1956. Écurie Monopole then became Panhard’s officially supported team, incorporating personnel and vehicles at Achères with a small crew of eight members. Some sources refer to this team as Société Monopole Course.

Due to a decline in sports car events, the team shifted its focus toward GT racing before ultimately disbanding Écurie Monopole at the close of 1958.

Racing Vehicles

Overview of Monopole's competition models:

Monopole Sport

The initial racing vehicle from Monopole utilized the inline four-cylinder engine and chassis sourced from a Simca 8, complemented by a lightweight aluminium body. In 1948, two additional units were crafted featuring bespoke chassis developed by Monopole, while maintaining the original Simca powertrain. This model made its first appearance at Reims in 1947 and secured a class victory at Le Mans in 1949.

Duval Monopole

Around 1951, chassis DS 002 was modified by driver-owner Pierre Duval to accommodate a 2.0 L V8 engine derived from a Ford Vedette. Notably, Ford transferred ownership of the Vedette model and its Poissy manufacturing plant to Simca in 1954.

Monopole X84

This series marked the beginning of Monopole’s use of the Panhard Dyna X platform, integrating its engine, chassis, and mechanical components with custom aerodynamic bodywork. The barquette-style "tank" was equipped with the GM600 S engine (), delivering power at 4000 rpm. Debuting at Le Mans in 1950, the X84 finished twenty-second overall and competed for several subsequent seasons.

Monopole X85

Built upon the Dyna 110 foundation, this model maintained the same engine displacement as the X84 but upgraded to the GM600 SS2 engine, generating at 4,800 rpm. A Monopole X85 barquette participated in the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Monopole X86

Advancing to the Dyna 120 series, these cars featured engines such as the GM750 SS3 () or GM750 Sprint () operating at 5000 rpm. The X86 made appearances at Le Mans during 1955, 1957, and 1958, offered in both barquette and berlinette body styles.

Monopole X87

Based on the Dyna 130 chassis with an engine capacity of , it came standard with the GM 850 S producing , while a Sprint variant delivered at 5000 rpm. The X87 competed at Le Mans in 1953.

Panhard-Monopole X88

Exclusively constructed by Panhard for motorsport, this 1953 Le Mans barquette featured a lightweight alloy chassis and Duralinox bodywork designed by Riffard. Powered by a Panhard twin-cylinder engine producing , its body underwent multiple revisions ranging from a broad flat tail to more conventional sports car designs.

Panhard-Monopole X89

Similar in concept to the X88 but equipped with an larger Panhard twin engine of . The original Duralinox body was subsequently updated to include closed berlinette versions with sleek front ends.

Panhard-Monopole VM5

Introduced in spring 1955, Panhard unveiled two VM5 barquettes crafted by Pierre Durand for Le Mans competition. These vehicles featured tubular chassis with independent suspension and were powered by flat-twin engines. Their low-profile streamlined bodies incorporated central seating arrangements. VM5s competed at Le Mans in both 1955 and again in 1958 under Monopole branding.

Monopole-Oliveira Formula Junior

At the end of 1958, technician José Carvallo de Oliveira developed an open-wheel Formula Junior racecar that utilized a front-mounted flat-twin engine and suspension components derived from Monopole sportscars. This car raced during 1959–1960 before being stored; it was later restored and exhibited at Brands Hatch in June 2008.

Competition Results

Reims Formula Libre

In 1947, driver de Montrémy piloted a Simca Monopole Sport to a seventh-place finish.

12 Hours of Paris

In 1948, de Montrémy and Dussous secured ninth place overall along with a class victory in S1.1; another entry finished nineteenth.
In 1950, drivers Liénard and Guerne achieved eighth place.

24 Hours of Le Mans

In 1949, de Montrémy and Dussous finished twelfth overall driving a Simca Monopole and won their S1.1 class.
The following year, de Montrémy and Hémard placed twenty-second with a Simca Monopole.
In 1951, de Montrémy teamed again with Hémard to finish twenty-fourth in a Monopole Sport X84.
The 1952 event saw Hémard and Dussous finishing fourteenth overall with an X84 model and winning the S750 category.
In 1954, Hémard partnered with Pierre Flahault for a thirteenth-place finish in an X84.
During the 1957 race, Pierre Hémard alongside Pierre Chancel placed eighteenth driving a Panhard Monopole X89; Robert Chancel and Pierre Flahault secured twentieth place in an X88.
In 1958, Jacques Poch and Guy Dunand were seventeenth overall—the sole Monopole finisher that year.

Grand Prix Events

Portugal Grand Prix — Pierre Duval’s Duval Monopole ended tenth.
GP de Reims
- In 1952, Pierre Chancel finished thirteenth driving a Monopole Panhard.
GP des Frontieres
- During the 1955 race, Pierre Duval’s Duval Monopole V8 took seventh place.
GP de Rouen
- In 1956, Pierre Hémard came eighth overall and first within the S750 category.

12 Hours of Reims

In 1953, Yvonne Simon and Hémard finished fourteenth competing in a Monopole Panhard.
By 1956, Pierre and Robert Chancel achieved seventh place; van Steen and Sourzat finished twelfth—all driving Panhard Monopoles.
The following year saw Pierre Chancel and Hémard finish twenty-fourth while winning the GT1.0 class; Robert Chancel teamed with Blanchet for thirty-second place.
In 1958, Van der Bruwaene/Lejourel won the GT750 class; Hémard/Beaulieux placed second; Vinatier/Masson completed third.

Coupes du Salon

In 1953, Hémard secured thirteenth place driving a Monopole Panhard.
During the mid-1950s, Jean Vinatier achieved tenth place as well as first in the 750 cc category.

Coupe de Paris

In 1954, Dussous finished third within the 750 cc division driving a Monopole Panhard.
By 1955, Pierre Duval placed seventeenth overall while winning the T2.0 class.

Coupe d'Automne

In 1954, de Montrémy finished twelfth competing with a Panhard-powered Monopole.

4 Hours of Forez

During the 1955 event, Robert Chancel took eighth overall and first in S1.0 class behind the wheel of a 750 cc Monopole Panhard Tank.

Bol d'Or

Simon paired with de Montrémy to finish tenth driving a Panhard Monopole in 1955.

Coupes de Vitesse

In 1957, Pierre and Robert Chancel placed twelfth and fourteenth respectively driving Panhard Monopoles.
The following year saw Pierre Chancel win the GT1.0+TS event while Vinatier took fifth; Chancel also claimed victory in S750 class whereas Vinatier ranked twelfth within S2.0 category.

Caen Races

In 1957 events, Pierre Chancel secured second place followed by Pierre Hémard in third.

Tour de France Automobile

René Cotton finished twenty-second competing in a 750 cc Monopole during the 1957 edition.

3 Hours of Pau

In the race held in 1958, Hémard achieved third place; Pierre Chancel alongside Jean Vinatier came fourth; Pailler completed fifth position.

Trophée d'Auvergne

During this event in 1958, Vinatier placed seventeenth overall while winning GT750 class; Roger Masson finished second within GT750 category.

External links

Complete Monopole Race Results at www.racingsportscars.com

History

Monopole in racing

Racing Vehicles

Competition Results

Further reading

External links