Tracteurs FAR
| Company type | Public company (from 1906) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | January 19, 1899 in Asnières-sur-Seine, France |
| Founder | Ernest Chenard, Henri Walcker |
| Defunct | 1946 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy in 1936; acquired by Chausson; ceased automobile production by 1939/40 |
| Headquarters | Gennevilliers (from 1906) , France |
Area served | France |
Key people | Ernest Chenard (co-founder), Henri Walcker (co-founder), Lucien Chenard (president after 1922) |
| Products | Automobiles, commercial vehicles, trucks |
| Parent | Chausson (post-1936) |
Chenard-Walcker, alternatively referred to as Chenard & Walcker, was a French manufacturer of automobiles and commercial vehicles operating from 1898 until 1946. Subsequently, the company developed trucks that were distributed through Peugeot's dealership network up to the 1970s. Originally situated in Asnières-sur-Seine, the firm relocated to Gennevilliers in 1906. Chenard-Walcker is particularly distinguished for securing victory in the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Race held in 1923.
History
In 1898, Ernest Chenard (1861–1922), a railway engineer and bicycle maker near Paris, joined forces with Henri Walcker (1877–1912), a mining engineer, to manufacture motorized tricycles. Their automobile enterprise was officially established on 19 January 1899,[1] with Chenard overseeing design aspects and Walcker managing sales and financial operations. The company was registered under the name Chenard, Walcker et Compagnie in 1900. They initially produced a quadricycle before unveiling their first genuine automobile, the "Chenard et Walcker Type A," which featured an in-house developed two-cylinder engine and a distinctive transmission design. The Type A made its debut at the 1901 Paris Salon, followed by the introduction of the Type B later that year,[1] rapidly broadening their vehicle lineup.[2]
The firm transitioned to a public company in March 1906, adopting the title Société Anonyme des Anciens Étabissements Chenard et Walcker, and shifted production to a newly constructed factory in Gennevilliers by 1908.[3] Both "Chenard-Walcker" and "Chenard et Walcker" were utilized as brand identifiers. By 1910, annual output surpassed 1,500 units, positioning it as France's ninth-largest car manufacturer with a significant share of the Paris taxi market. The range included a six-cylinder model launched in 1913 alongside four-cylinder engines spanning from to , prior to World War I.
Throughout World War I, Chenard-Walcker produced Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines as well as military adaptations of its Type U automobile.[4] After the war, production resumed with the six-cylinder Model UU and introduced a new four-cylinder 12CV rated at , in 1920. The company also manufactured FAR commercial vehicles. Following Ernest Chenard's passing in 1922, leadership was assumed by his son Lucien Chenard (1896–1971).[3]
The vehicle engineered by Henri Toutée with a three-litre engine claimed victory at the first-ever 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923, piloted by company engineers René Léonard and André Lagache. Subsequently, a public version known as the two-litre 10/12 was offered for sale.
By 1925, Chenard et Walcker had risen to become France’s fourth-largest automotive producer.[3] In 1927, it entered into an alliance with Delahaye and Rosengart, collaborating on design and component sharing; however, Unic opted not to participate.[5] This partnership continued until 1931 when Chenard et Walcker exited due to operational challenges.[6]
In 1934, the company introduced front independent suspension and front-wheel drive technology on its Super Aigle models based on Jean-Albert Grégoire’s designs. Despite this innovation, it struggled against competition from the more economically priced Citroën Traction Avant. The same year also marked the debut of the V-8 powered Aigle 8 model.
Decline
Due to insufficient funds for modernization, Chenard & Walcker continued producing largely handcrafted vehicles that could not compete on pricing. This financial strain culminated in bankruptcy by 1936, after which the company was acquired by the coachbuilder Chausson. The 1938 lineup featured bodies shared with Matford, differentiated primarily by radiator grille designs and powered by V-8 engines from Citroën or Ford. Although there were intentions to refresh the flagship "Aigle 22CV" model for 1939 with a slanted grille, these plans never came to fruition, and automobile production ended by 1939 or 1940. An advertisement from April 1940 promoting Matford-based passenger cars indicates the firm was likely completing remaining inventory rather than manufacturing new units.
The war years
Following France’s entry into the war in 1939 and subsequent German occupation, civilian industries encountered critical shortages of both raw materials and fuel. In 1940, Chenard & Walcker unveiled a prototype light van ambulance designed for military use, initiating their production of forward control light vans. By 1941, this van became available for civilian customers, equipped with a compact two-stroke water-cooled engine delivering approximately , which was only just sufficient for its intended load capacity. Due to fuel scarcity by 1942, an electric variant was introduced by Sovel. Although Chenard & Walcker eventually ceased vehicle manufacturing, this van model persisted. After Société des usines Chausson, the company’s owner, was absorbed by Peugeot in the late 1940s, the van received the Peugeot 202 engine and was rebranded as the Peugeot D3 in 1950. The final vehicles carrying the Chenard nameplate were assembled in that same year.
Competition
Chenard-Walcker achieved victory at the first-ever 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans race with car number 9, driven by André Lagache and René Léonard, completing a total of 128 laps. Their second entry, car number 10 with drivers Raoul Bachmann and Christian Dauvergne, secured second place, trailing by four laps. The third vehicle, car number 11 piloted by Fernand Bachmann and Raymond Glaszmann, finished seventh overall after completing 110 laps. All three competitors were Type U 15CV Sport models competing in the 3.0-litre category, where they placed first, second, and fourth respectively within their class. Collectively, these cars completed 362 laps—the highest aggregate distance among manufacturers that year.
Tracteurs FAR
FAR, a French truck manufacturer linked to Chenard-Walcker, operated between 1919 and its closure in 1970. Co-founded by André Lagache—winner of the 1923 Le Mans—the company’s name incorporates his initial ("A" in FAR).
FAR produced the 'Pony Mécanique', a three-wheeled articulated tractor unit featuring an automatic coupling system designed for swift trailer changes. Manufactured under license from UK-based Scammell between 1937 and 1970, FAR’s version was powered by the engine from the Citroën Traction Avant.
Major models
- 14/16 (1905)
- Type M (1907)
- Type N (1907)
- Type P (1910)
- Type U 15CV (1913)
- Type UU (1919)
- Type U 12CV (1920)
- Type TT (1922)
- 3-litre (1922)
- 10/15CV (1924)
- 12/25CV (1924)
- 22CV Straight 8 (1924)
- 14CV (1929)
- Y6 (1929)
- 8CV (1931)
- Super Aigle 4 (1934)
- Aiglon (1934)
- Aigle 4S (1934)
- Aigle 8 (1934)
- Aigle 20 (1938)
- Aigle 22 (1938)
Additional resources
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