Georges Irat
Encyclopedia
The Georges Irat was a French automobile
manufactured by engine
builder Georges Irat from 1921 to 1953.
. This was joined in 1926 by a 2985 cc six-cylinder. The company turned to producing Lycoming
powered models in 1929, both sixes and eights; this was also the year in which they moved from Chatou
to Neuilly
. A small car with 1086 cc four cylinder engine and designed by George's son Michel
, was added to the range in 1929 but sales of this and the large cars were poor resulting in a financial crisis.
The manufacturer was partially taken over by Godefroy et Levecque makers of the Ruby engine in 1934, consequently moving to that company's works in Levallois
. Here they made two front wheel drive sporting roadsters, one with a 1100 cc Ruby and the other with a six cylinder 2450 cc Lycoming engine. The smaller car sold well but there were few takers for the six. In 1938 a new sports car with a 1911 cc engine produced by Citroën
with independent suspension using rubber springing on all wheels was announced but war broke out after about 200 had been made.
in May/June 1940. An all-new electric car was designed during Summer 1940 and developed rapidly in order to be ready for public launch at the Lyon Fair during the autumn of 1941. The little car was designed to be as light-weight as possible and the electric motor had a number of ingenious features. The vehicle had a top speed of 30-35 km/h (roughly 20 mph) and the lead battery provided for a range of 90-100 kilometres (nearly 60 miles) between charges. Both a small 2-seater cabriolet and a 2-seater mini-van were produced, although most of the rear portion of the car and indeed of the van was permanently occupied by the electric motor and batteries. The first few cars were produced for use by Georges Irat employees, but small batches of the cars were built for sale via an exclusive deal with a car dealer on the Rue de Passy on the western side of central Paris
. After the end of 1942 significant levels of auto-production were no longer possible due to the non-availability of materials and labour for civilian production. Production of electric cars did not restart when peace returned in 1945.
In 1950 Georges Irat announced the VDB or Voiture du Bled made by a new company, Société Chérifienne George Irat in Casablanca, Morocco. This was a jeep like vehicle powered by a rear mounted Panhard engine. Only a few were made up to 1953.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
builder Georges Irat from 1921 to 1953.
Between two World Wars
The company's first product was an ohv 1990cc four-cylinder car designed by Maurice Gaultier who had been with DelageDelage
Delage was a French luxury automobile and racecar company founded in 1905 by Louis Delage in Levallois-Perret near Paris; it was acquired by Delahaye in 1935 and ceased operation in 1953.-History:...
. This was joined in 1926 by a 2985 cc six-cylinder. The company turned to producing Lycoming
Lycoming Engines
Lycoming Engines is a U.S. aircraft engine company, known primarily for its general aviation engines. For most of its history Lycoming has been part of the AVCO group as AVCO Lycoming. In 1987 AVCO was purchased by Textron to become Textron Lycoming...
powered models in 1929, both sixes and eights; this was also the year in which they moved from Chatou
Chatou
Chatou is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center...
to Neuilly
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
. A small car with 1086 cc four cylinder engine and designed by George's son Michel
Michel Irat
The Michel Irat was a French automobile manufactured from 1929 until 1930 in Paris.Georges Irat bought the Chaigneau-Brasier company and changed its name to that of his son Michel...
, was added to the range in 1929 but sales of this and the large cars were poor resulting in a financial crisis.
The manufacturer was partially taken over by Godefroy et Levecque makers of the Ruby engine in 1934, consequently moving to that company's works in Levallois
Levallois
Levallois may refer to:*Levallois-Perret, a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France.*Levallois technique *Nicolas-Eugène Levallois*Levallois SC, a current French football club...
. Here they made two front wheel drive sporting roadsters, one with a 1100 cc Ruby and the other with a six cylinder 2450 cc Lycoming engine. The smaller car sold well but there were few takers for the six. In 1938 a new sports car with a 1911 cc engine produced by Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
with independent suspension using rubber springing on all wheels was announced but war broke out after about 200 had been made.
During the Second World War
After the outbreak of war, Georges Irat was among the first auto-makers to focus on electric cars, there being diminishing quantities of oil based motor-fuel available for civilian use, especially after the German invasionBattle 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...
in May/June 1940. An all-new electric car was designed during Summer 1940 and developed rapidly in order to be ready for public launch at the Lyon Fair during the autumn of 1941. The little car was designed to be as light-weight as possible and the electric motor had a number of ingenious features. The vehicle had a top speed of 30-35 km/h (roughly 20 mph) and the lead battery provided for a range of 90-100 kilometres (nearly 60 miles) between charges. Both a small 2-seater cabriolet and a 2-seater mini-van were produced, although most of the rear portion of the car and indeed of the van was permanently occupied by the electric motor and batteries. The first few cars were produced for use by Georges Irat employees, but small batches of the cars were built for sale via an exclusive deal with a car dealer on the Rue de Passy on the western side of central 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...
. After the end of 1942 significant levels of auto-production were no longer possible due to the non-availability of materials and labour for civilian production. Production of electric cars did not restart when peace returned in 1945.
After the Second World War
A prototype with an 1100 cc flat four engine driving the front wheels was shown at the October 1946 Paris Salon. It reappeared at the 1947 Motor Show looking broadly similar but the front panels were slightly reworked and the headlights were covered over with an extra layer of glass in order to present a smoother profile. Under the bonnet/hood the engine had now been replaced by a 1996 cc 4 cylinder in-line unit featuring a twin overhead camshaft and driving, now, the rear wheels via a more conventional transmission. At this time the French auto-industry was subject to extensive government intervention, and in this dirigiste context Georges Irat thought that the larger engined car might be classified by the government, which controlled supplies of materials necessary for auto-production, as an "exceptional car reserved in the first instance for export" However, the car never entered production even though it re-appeared at the 1949 show.In 1950 Georges Irat announced the VDB or Voiture du Bled made by a new company, Société Chérifienne George Irat in Casablanca, Morocco. This was a jeep like vehicle powered by a rear mounted Panhard engine. Only a few were made up to 1953.