Sizaire-Naudin
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Founder | Maurice Sizaire, Georges Sizaire, Louis Naudin |
| Defunct | 1921 |
| Headquarters | Courbevoie , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
Sizaire et Naudin was a French automobile producer located at 52 rue Victor-Hugo, Courbevoie, near Paris, active between 1903 and 1921.
The company
The enterprise was established in 1903 by siblings Maurice (1877–1969) and Georges Sizaire (1880–1924), together with family acquaintance Louis Naudin (1876–1913). They began marketing lightweight "voiturette-style" vehicles in 1905, unveiling them at the Paris Motor Show that same October.
Following disagreements with an investor in 1912, the Sizaire brothers departed and soon founded a new firm, Sizaire-Berwick, in London with financial backer F. Berwick. Meanwhile, Sizaire-Naudin continued its operations for another ten years without their involvement.
The cars
Initial models were equipped with simple single cylinder engines and featured pioneering independent front suspension employing sliding pillars combined with a transverse leaf spring, reminiscent of Decauville designs. Their distinctive transmission incorporated a 3-speed differential using three straight-cut pinions meshing with a single crown wheel.
Robust demand allowed for company growth supported by bicycle importers Hammond et Monnier, who later transferred ownership to the Duc d'Uzes; from 1907 onward, the family emblem appeared on the radiator grille.
By 1911, single-cylinder powerplants had become obsolete. After the founders left, the firm transitioned to four-cylinder engines, initially procuring 1847 cm3 units from Ballot, although this change resulted in only modest sales improvements.
Following the war, the newly formed Société des Nouveaux Établissements Sizaire et Naudin recommenced production of Ballot-engined automobiles based on prewar designs. At the 1919 Paris Motor Show, it presented a four-seat "torpedo" Type D featuring a wheelbase and a 2292 cm3 four-cylinder engine, offered at a price of 24,000 francs.
Despite attempts to re-enter motorsport competition during the 1921 International Voiturette Cup, financial troubles forced the company into liquidation later that year.
Racing
Sizaire et Naudin enjoyed significant achievements in early voiturette racing, taking advantage of rules that restricted cylinder bore but not stroke length. Their period of competitive dominance extended from 1906 through 1909, with continued involvement until 1911.