Tuar (automobile)
| Industry | Automobile repairs (1913–1956) Automobile production (1913–1925) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1913 |
| Defunct | 1925 (end of auto-production) |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Adrien Morin (1880–1968) |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Tuar represents a brief chapter in the history of French automotive manufacturing.
Adrien Morin
Born on 8 May 1880 in Brion-près-Thouet, Adrien Morin initially followed a legal career path like his father. Eventually, he transitioned to the automobile sector near Paris, gaining valuable experience at companies such as Vinot & Deguingand, Decauville, and Cornilleau & Sainte-Beuve. In 1913, he established the Garage Moderne in Thouars, close to his hometown, focusing on both vehicle repair and production. Under the Tuar marque, Morin created lightweight automobiles assembled from externally sourced parts, including engines supplied by Chapuis-Dornier. The inaugural model was an 8HP "Torpedo" with a 1,726cc engine, registered locally in January 1914.
The business
Following the conclusion of World War I, Morin expanded his manufacturing operations, employing over 50 workers by 1922. Despite this growth, the company's location in a smaller town restricted its access to vital supplier networks and specialized knowledge that were more readily available to Parisian manufacturers, posing significant competitive disadvantages. Production halted in 1925 after approximately 800 vehicles had been produced. Nevertheless, the Garage Moderne persisted as an automobile repair service provider until 1956.
The war and beyond
During the wartime period, the factory was repurposed for munitions manufacturing.
Less than a year after the war ended, Tuar presented its vehicles at the 15th Paris Motor Show in October 1919, showcasing a 10HP model named "Tuar Type B2." This variant featured a 1,790 cc four-cylinder engine of unspecified make.
In the years that followed, Tuar's engine offerings diversified considerably. The company primarily utilized four-cylinder powerplants ranging from 1,244cc to 1,821cc. While Chapuis-Dornier remained the principal engine supplier, Tuar also incorporated units from CIME, Fivet, and Ruby. Additionally, a six-cylinder CIME engine with a displacement of 1,496cc was available.
Reading list
- Harald Linz, Halwart Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie. United Soft Media Verlag, München 2008, . (German)
- George Nick Georgano (Chefredakteur): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 3: P–Z. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, . (English)
- George Nick Georgano: Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris 1975. (French)