S.E.F.A.C.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Motor racing |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | Émile Petit |
| Defunct | 1948 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Grand Prix racing automobiles |
The S.E.F.A.C. (also presented as SEFAC or Sefac) was a French Grand Prix racing automobile that participated intermittently throughout the 1930s.
History
Conceived for competition under the 1934–37 Grand Prix regulations, the vehicle was financed through a subscription organized by the Societé d'Etudes et de Fabrications d'Automobiles de Course, from which it derived its name. Émile Petit, recognized for his earlier contributions to Salmson automobiles during the 1920s, was responsible for its design. The car was equipped with a 2,771 cc U8 engine featuring twin overhead camshafts mounted on separate crankshafts within a unified crankcase—one crankshaft driving a supercharger and the other connected to the transmission. Although this configuration was innovative, the engine delivered only 275 horsepower and the car’s weight exceeded 900 kilograms, making it relatively heavy.
The S.E.F.A.C. was registered for the 1935 Monaco Grand Prix with Marcel Lehoux slated to drive but ultimately did not appear at the event. Its first actual competition came at the 1935 French Grand Prix; however, it was withdrawn after practice sessions because it surpassed the mandated 750 kg weight restriction. Following changes to the Grand Prix formula in 1938, the car participated in just two prominent races: the 1938 French Grand Prix with Eugène Chaboud behind the wheel and the 1939 Pau Grand Prix driven by Jean Trémoulet—retiring from both contests.
In 1948, Petit sold the vehicle to entrepreneur Jean de Dommartin, who renamed it Dommartin after installing new bodywork and increasing the engine displacement to 3,619 cc by boring out the cylinders. Despite these modifications, the car did not return to competitive racing. It has since been restored to its 1938 specification and frequently appears at classic motoring gatherings.
External links
- Official website
- Golden Era of Grand Prix Motor Racing: S.E.F.A.C. by Leif Snellman
- 8W - What? - SEFAC