Sénéchal (automobile)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1921 in Courbevoie, France |
| Founder | Robert Sénéchal |
| Defunct | 1929 |
| Fate | Production ended; merged into Chenard & Walcker in 1925 |
| Headquarters | Courbevoie , France |
| Products | Cyclecars, voiturettes |
Sénéchal was a French car manufacturer that operated between 1921 and 1929.
The founder
Robert Sénéchal (1892–1985) distinguished himself as a racing driver, aviation trailblazer, and entrepreneur. He was also the grandfather of motor-sport innovator and journalist Patrick Zaniroli.
The business
Established in 1921 in Courbevoie, the enterprise evolved from the "Eclair" cyclecar venture, in which Sénéchal had a brief role. Capitalizing on his prominence within the automotive community, Sénéchal’s cyclecars rapidly achieved commercial success. The demand soon outpaced the modest production capacity at Courbevoie, leading to a manufacturing collaboration with Chenard & Walcker starting in 1923, a company that did not offer a cyclecar at the time. With economic growth underway, Sénéchal shifted focus from cyclecars to manufacturing lightweight vehicles classified as voiturettes.
In 1925, the firm was renamed Société Industrielle et Commerciale and became part of Chenard & Walcker. Voiturettes equipped with Chenard & Walcker engines were produced until 1929. Following a severe racing incident in 1931, Robert Sénéchal exited the automobile industry to concentrate on aerial photography.
The cars
The manufacturer specialized in compact two-seater open vehicles, primarily utilizing engines from specialist suppliers such as Ruby, with occasional use of powerplants from Train or Chapuis-Dornier.
At the 19th Paris Motor Show in October 1924, Sénéchal presented two cyclecar variants: a 6 HP model with a 972cc engine and a 7 HP version featuring an 1100cc engine. These models had wheelbases of and , respectively, and were priced at 12,600 and 14,900 francs.
During the 22nd Motor Show held in October 1928, Sénéchal displayed two voiturettes powered by Chenard & Walcker engines rated at 7 HP (1100 cc) and 9 HP (1500 cc). This event marked the manufacturer’s last appearance at a motor show prior to halting production in 1929.
External links
- GTÜ Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung mbH (accessed 9 March 2013)
Reading list
- Harald Linz, Halwart Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie. United Soft Media Verlag, München 2008, .
- George Nick Georgano (ed.): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 3: P–Z. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, . (English)
- George Nick Georgano: Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris 1975. (French)