Sera (automobile)
| Company type | Société Anonyme |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Founder | M.G. Rey |
| Defunct | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Key people | M.G. Rey, François Arbel, Jacques Durand |
| Products | Sera sports automobile |
The Sera represents a small-scale sports automobile manufactured in France between 1959 and 1961, with some limited assembly taking place in Spain.
Background
Produced by SERA SA (Société d'Études et de Réalisations Automobiles, Société Anonyme), this company should not be confused with the similarly named SERA-CD established by Charles Deutsch. Founded by M.G. Rey, SERA SA was based in Porte de Villiers, Paris. The project reportedly received support from industrialist François Arbel, recognized for his involvement with the Symétric hybrid prototype, who also helped bring designer Jacques Durand into the initiative.
Features and specifications
The Sera’s design by Durand featured a sleek 2-seat convertible body style with an optional detachable hardtop. Its construction incorporated parts sourced from other models, such as the windshield derived from the Simca Aronde Océane, taillights borrowed from the Panhard PL 17, and the rear window of the hardtop taken from the Citroën DS.
With a weight below , the vehicle utilized a backbone frame and powertrain components supplied by Panhard. It was equipped with a two-cylinder boxer engine offered in either a standard or a higher-performance "Tigre" variant, the latter capable of achieving a maximum speed of . Power was transmitted to the front wheels through a 4-speed manual transaxle originally fitted in the Panhard Dyna Z.
Production history
Prior to its intended unveiling at the 1959 Paris Auto Salon, five units of the Sera were constructed. Due to the absence of an official exhibition space, SERA showcased the car externally to the main pavilion. Priced at 14,000 francs, production continued with eight additional cars built in Paris before relocating to a former Motobloc facility in Bordeaux. There, 15 further examples were assembled until manufacturing ended in January 1961.
Following its display at a trade fair in Barcelona, plans emerged to manufacture the Sera in Spain, leading Durand to move operations to Tarragona. However, import restrictions under Franco’s regime obstructed access to critical French Panhard components. Consequently, one Spanish-assembled Sera was completed using a three-cylinder two-stroke DKW engine configured for front-wheel drive, while another featured a Fiat engine placed at the front with rear-wheel drive before production was terminated.
A restored fixed-head coupé version of the Sera has been shown publicly; however, its design may differ from the original and appears similar to Durand’s subsequent Arista model.