Rolland-Pilain

Rolland-Pilain

Company type	Société anonyme
Industry	Automotive
Founded	November 4, 1905 (1905-11-04) in Tours, France
Founder	François Rolland, Émile Pilain
Defunct	1932 (1932)
Fate	Bankruptcy
Headquarters	Tours , France
Products	Automobiles

Rolland-Pilain was a French car manufacturer founded on 4 November 1905 at 95, rue Victor-Hugo in Tours by François Rolland and Émile Pilain.

The partners

François Rolland, a prosperous entrepreneur from the local wine trade, partnered with Émile Pilain, who contributed technical knowledge gained from training under his uncle, François Pilain—the founder of Société des Automobiles Pilain (SAP) based in Lyon. Although sharing the same surname, the two Pilain enterprises operated independently, with Émile remaining in Tours.

Establishing the company

Rolland-Pilain initially concentrated on vehicle repairs and sales before commencing automobile manufacturing in 1907. In 1911, the firm relocated to 44, place Rabelais in Tours and transitioned into a Société anonyme (limited liability company), retaining this structure until financial challenges emerged in 1925.

The automobiles

Despite operating with modest financial resources, Rolland-Pilain incorporated pioneering elements like hydraulic braking systems. Their lineup encompassed family cars, sports variants, and luxury automobiles.

War impact and temporary loss of control

Throughout World War I, production shifted towards munitions and aircraft engine parts, with women comprising much of the workforce. The aero-engine producer Gnome et Rhône moved part of its operations to Tours during this period and acquired a controlling interest in Rolland-Pilain in 1918, which it divested by 1920. Leadership passed from François Rolland to his son Lucien, while Émile Pilain continued his involvement alongside his brother Léon Pilain—formerly associated with Delahaye—who increasingly assumed managerial responsibilities.

1920 Models

At the October 1919 Paris Motor Show, Rolland-Pilain presented three vehicles:

• The "Type RP 10HP" was powered by a four-cylinder 1924cc engine with a wheelbase of .
  Price: 13,500 francs (1919)
• The "Type M6 14HP" featured a six-cylinder 2770cc engine and a wheelbase of .
  Price: 18,500 francs (1919)
• The "Type CR 18HP" offered a large four-cylinder 3969cc engine with a wheelbase of .
  Price: 23,000 francs (1919)

While the six-cylinder variant did not enter mass production, both four-cylinder models found some commercial success. Prices applied to chassis only, including lighting but excluding tires.

1925 Models

By the October 1924 Motor Show, production had ceased on the six-cylinder model; four-cylinder vehicles dominated the range:

• "Type RP 10HP" equipped with a side-valve 1924cc engine and a wheelbase of .
  Price: 24,000 francs (1924)
• "Type B25 10/25HP" featuring an overhead valve 1924cc engine and a wheelbase of .
  Price: 27,300 francs (1924)
• "Type C23" (also known as "Rolland-Pilain 2-litre") fitted with an overhead camshaft 2008cc engine and a wheelbase of . Introduced in 1923, this sophisticated yet expensive model served as the firm’s flagship throughout the decade.
  Price: 39,500 francs (1924)
• "Type CRK 18HP," a large four-cylinder overhead valve model with a 3969cc engine and a wheelbase of , was approaching discontinuation.
  Price: 24,000 francs (1924)

Prices referred to bare chassis including lighting but excluding tires.

Racing

Rolland-Pilain took part in multiple Grand Prix competitions as well as Le Mans 24 hours endurance races.

Their most distinguished success came in 1923 when Albert Guyot secured victory at the San Sebastián Grand Prix behind the wheel of a Rolland-Pilain A22.

In both 1924 and 1925, the firm entered three vehicles featuring Torpedo-style bodies at Le Mans, competing in the category limited to engines below 2,000cc. Only a single car completed the race, finishing seventh, piloted by Jean de Marguenat and Louis Sire.

The brand also attracted attention through the "Tranin-Duverne" expedition, a lengthy journey across Africa from Conakry to Djibouti undertaken with a 10HP model between December 1924 and February 1925—marking the first time a wheeled vehicle traversed the continent from west to east.

The end

Due to financial setbacks, Rolland and Pilain relinquished control of their company in 1926. Automobile manufacturing was halted in 1927, followed by bankruptcy in 1928. Persistent difficulties led to the factory's closure in 1932.

By the conclusion of its operations, the company had produced more than 5,000 automobiles.