Automobiles Lambert
Encyclopedia
Lambert was a French
automobile manufacturer established by Germain Lambert in 1926 at Mâcon
. In commercial terms it never progressed beyond marginal viability and it withdrew from auto-making towards the end of 1953.
The company was in no way connected and should not be confused with the earlier Paris
based business A. Lambert & Cie which had produced cars between 1902 and 1906.
The Mâcon
based Lambert business relocated in 1931 to Rheims which was a centre
for motor racing
in the 1930s. Soon after this Germain Lambert was running his own auto-repair workshop not too far away at Sainte-Menehould
, and the business appears to have prospered allowing him in due course to return his attention to more exciting, if less financially stable, ventures. Lambert was still working out of his premises near Sainte-Menehould
in 1940 at the time of the German invasion
undertaking specialist jobs in connection with the auto-business and also components for saw-mills. Fuel for civilian use rapidly disappeared and Lambert found it inappropriate to travel the region on public transport to deliver small items to customers, so in 1940 he came up with a design for a cycle car and constructed two prototypes. The emphasis, necessarily, was on light weight construction, with a tubular frame and timber superstructure. Overall the device weighed only 150 Kg when empty. However, it was necessary to add 75 Kg for the 24 volt batteries in order to power the ½ hp engine lurking somewhere under the bodywork. Rubber and tires being unavailable, the unsprung wheels were wrapped around with multiple layers of bandage which made for a firm ride. The vehicle could move only slowly, and managed a range of very roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) between charges. These were troubled times, and Lambert was able to have his cycle car homologated for sale, but he soon rejected the idea, ostensibly because he could not bring himself to produce such a slow and ugly “car”.
Lambert moved again, this time to Giromagny
in 1946.
In May 1948 he unveiled a strikingly original looking sports coupe which five months later he exhibited at the Paris Motor Show. The light sports coupe first seen at Paris was the fist of a succession of similar cars powered by an 1,087 cc engine still supplied by Ruby. At the end of the war with volume production of fighter-planes less of a priority in western Europe, the newly developed aluminium business was looking for new opportunities. Steel was in short supply: the new Lambert model was one of a number of cars appearing in France at this time with an all aluminium body embellished with large wings that covered the rear wheels. The transmission and mechanically operated brakes were conventional despite the car’s elaborate body-work. The Lambert that appeared at the 1948 motor show was itself never developed beyond prototype stage, but it provided the basis for a “competition” version followed in 1951 by a cabriolet branded as the Simplicia and a Torino coupe. A Luxor cabriolet appeared in 1952 and several were sold, but by now the business was heavily indebted. Lambert found himself required by his bankers to sell his workshop near Belfort
, his machine tools, his inventory of raw materials and even his house. By the end of 1953 the business had ceased to exist.
Despite its commercial failure, the company’s final years were marked by notable competition successes, a Lambert 1100 being placed second in its class at the 1951 Bol d'Or
race with further racing successes following in 1952 and 1953.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
automobile manufacturer established by Germain Lambert in 1926 at Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
. In commercial terms it never progressed beyond marginal viability and it withdrew from auto-making towards the end of 1953.
The company was in no way connected and should not be confused with the earlier Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
based business A. Lambert & Cie which had produced cars between 1902 and 1906.
History
Lambert’s first car, in 1926, featured an engine bought in from Ruby. A front-wheel drive model with the same Ruby engine followed in 1931. From 1933 a front wheel drive single cylinder cycle car was offered. During the war Lambert may have worked on electric vehicles. Germain Lambert is remembered chiefly as a skilled mechanic and enthusiastic participant in motor racing. He produced a few cars between 1926 and 1936, after which he appears to have lost interest in auto-making for the rest of the decade.The Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
based Lambert business relocated in 1931 to Rheims which was a centre
Reims-Gueux
Reims-Gueux was a triangular motor racing road course near Reims, France, which hosted 14 French Grands Prix.Reims-Gueux was first established in 1926 on the public roads between the small French villages of Thillois and Gueux. The circuit had two very long straights between the towns, and teams...
for motor racing
French Grand Prix
The French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships....
in the 1930s. Soon after this Germain Lambert was running his own auto-repair workshop not too far away at Sainte-Menehould
Sainte-Menehould
Sainte-Menehould is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.The town and its several restaurants pride themselves on serving a local specialty called pied de cochon or pig's trotters....
, and the business appears to have prospered allowing him in due course to return his attention to more exciting, if less financially stable, ventures. Lambert was still working out of his premises near Sainte-Menehould
Sainte-Menehould
Sainte-Menehould is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.The town and its several restaurants pride themselves on serving a local specialty called pied de cochon or pig's trotters....
in 1940 at the time of the German invasion
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
undertaking specialist jobs in connection with the auto-business and also components for saw-mills. Fuel for civilian use rapidly disappeared and Lambert found it inappropriate to travel the region on public transport to deliver small items to customers, so in 1940 he came up with a design for a cycle car and constructed two prototypes. The emphasis, necessarily, was on light weight construction, with a tubular frame and timber superstructure. Overall the device weighed only 150 Kg when empty. However, it was necessary to add 75 Kg for the 24 volt batteries in order to power the ½ hp engine lurking somewhere under the bodywork. Rubber and tires being unavailable, the unsprung wheels were wrapped around with multiple layers of bandage which made for a firm ride. The vehicle could move only slowly, and managed a range of very roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) between charges. These were troubled times, and Lambert was able to have his cycle car homologated for sale, but he soon rejected the idea, ostensibly because he could not bring himself to produce such a slow and ugly “car”.
Lambert moved again, this time to Giromagny
Giromagny
Giromagny is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France.-External links:*...
in 1946.
In May 1948 he unveiled a strikingly original looking sports coupe which five months later he exhibited at the Paris Motor Show. The light sports coupe first seen at Paris was the fist of a succession of similar cars powered by an 1,087 cc engine still supplied by Ruby. At the end of the war with volume production of fighter-planes less of a priority in western Europe, the newly developed aluminium business was looking for new opportunities. Steel was in short supply: the new Lambert model was one of a number of cars appearing in France at this time with an all aluminium body embellished with large wings that covered the rear wheels. The transmission and mechanically operated brakes were conventional despite the car’s elaborate body-work. The Lambert that appeared at the 1948 motor show was itself never developed beyond prototype stage, but it provided the basis for a “competition” version followed in 1951 by a cabriolet branded as the Simplicia and a Torino coupe. A Luxor cabriolet appeared in 1952 and several were sold, but by now the business was heavily indebted. Lambert found himself required by his bankers to sell his workshop near Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
, his machine tools, his inventory of raw materials and even his house. By the end of 1953 the business had ceased to exist.
Despite its commercial failure, the company’s final years were marked by notable competition successes, a Lambert 1100 being placed second in its class at the 1951 Bol d'Or
Bol d'or
The Bol d'or is a motorcycle endurance race, held annually in France. Originally, it was an automobile as well as motorcycle race. The automobiles were limited to 1100cc engine capacity until the 1950s when the limit was raised to 1500cc, and later to 2000cc...
race with further racing successes following in 1952 and 1953.