Société des Automobiles Pilain

Société des Automobiles Pilain

Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1902
Founder	François Pilain
Defunct	1920
Fate	Taken over by Société Lyonnaise de l’Industrie Mécanique et Autos Pilain (SLIM)
Headquarters	Lyon , France
Products	Automobiles

Société des Automobiles Pilain (SAP) was a car manufacturer operating out of Lyon, France, from 1902 until 1920.

The company's founder, François Pilain, who lived from 1859 to 1924, mentored his nephew Émile Pilain. Émile went on to create a distinct enterprise, Rolland-Pilain, in Tours in 1907. Although the two firms are sometimes mistaken for one another, SAP and Rolland-Pilain functioned as separate entities without any business partnership.

History

François Pilain had a rich background in engineering and business ventures before establishing SAP. His previous engagements included working with Gardner-Serpollet, La Buire, and managing Société François Pilain between 1893 and 1897, followed by a tenure at Établissements V. Vermorel.

In 1901, he launched SAP in Lyon, manufacturing automobiles under the Pilain brand. By the years 1906 to 1907, the firm was producing approximately one chassis daily. However, financial difficulties led SAP to enter liquidation in 1908. Subsequently, Pilain stepped down and was succeeded by managing director de Villeneuve.

During the period of World War I, SAP contributed by assembling trucks for Hotchkiss. In 1920, the company was taken over by Société Lyonnaise de l’Industrie Mécanique et Autos Pilain (SLIM), which continued vehicle production under the “SLIM” name until 1929.

The cars

At its inception, SAP manufactured vehicles equipped with twin-cylinder and four-cylinder engines but discontinued twin-cylinder models after 1904.

By 1906, their lineup included engines with displacements of 4000cc and 8600cc. A smaller 1900cc version was introduced in 1909, followed by a six-cylinder engine of 2400cc in 1912. By 1913, SAP offered an extensive range of engine sizes spanning from 1000 cm³ up to 6300 cm³. Renowned for their precise craftsmanship, these automobiles were marketed as luxury vehicles with premium pricing.

One such vehicle is preserved and displayed at the Musée Henri Malartre located in Rochetaillée-sur-Saône, France.

Reference, sources and notes

• Harald Linz, Halwart Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie. United Soft Media Verlag, München 2008. (in German)
• George Nick Georgano (Ed.): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 3: P–Z. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001. (in English)
• George Nick Georgano: Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris 1975. (in French)