VETERAN CAR GUIDE
Berliet Marius Berliet started experimenting with automobiles in 1894 at premises in Lyons, producing small numbers of single cylinder, horizontal-engined tandem cars in 1900( apparently because the workshop had a narrow door), followed by front-mounted twin and four-cylinder, chain driven vehicles in 1901. In 1902, Berliet purchased the premises of Audibert-Lavirotte, and by 1903, the company had an agency in Paris, from where a range of four-cylinder, steel chassis machines with distinctive honeycomb radiators were advertised. Berliet had a reputation for manufacturing high quality, large engined motor cars, frequently clad with luxurious open and closed coachwork.
Boyer A Boyer car competed in the 1899 Paris-Rambouillet race. By 1901 the company was making standard voiturettes with front-mounted single cylinder engines sourced from Aster, Buchet, Meteore or De Dion Bouton. They had tubular frames and were shaft driven, with the water tank for the frontal radiator located at the rear of the frame. In 1902, Boyer vehicles were sold in England under the name of York, but Georgano reported that this was discontinued due to quality issues. By 1903, Boyer were selling larger cars with four-cylinder engines with side valves on an‘ L’ head, an armoured wood frame, and chain drive. Georgano claims that from 1905 Boyer cars were being made in the Prunel factory, along with vehicles that were branded Gnome, Gracile, and J. P. that were marketed in England. The last cars sold under the Boyer name appeared at the Paris Salon in 1906.
Brennan The Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company of Syracuse, New York, USA was a manufacturer of automobile engines, used by a range of other motor car companies. It is believed that the company prepared custom-made complete vehicles for some customers, during the period 1902- 1908, which were branded with the‘ Brennan’ marque. In the competitive American market that existed at this time, it was always unlikely that a small firm could succeed against organisations such as Ford, Cadillac, and Oldsmobile.
1902 Bolide.
Bertrand The Bertrand company, located on Avenue Malakoff, Paris. was founded in April 1900, and had ceased to exist before the end of 1902. It was one of a number of firms in the city that assembled its vehicles from components bought in from the main manufacturers: P. Dupressoir supplied the rear axles, and De Dion Bouton supplied the engines and ignition in the early days; later, in 1901, there were also engines available from Aster and Buchet. The overall design of the vehicle with its belt driven transmission, two engine speeds, and rear, inboard band brakes, was specific to Bertrand.
Bolide Bolide was the brand name given to motor vehicles that were distributed by Lefebvre, but the chassis, gearbox and axles were purchased by the company from Lacoste et Battmann. The latter, based in Paris, manufactured a large range of motor vehicle components that other companies purchased to support the assembly of their vehicles.
Brush The Brush Electrical Engineering Co Ltd of Lambeth, London made motorcars from 1902, initially using two-cylinder 10hp Abeille engines coupled to a Sage gearbox, both from France. By 1903, the company was re-badging a range of motor cars that were substantially manufactured by the Lacoste et Battmann factory in France. These included a 12hp twin cylinder, and 12hp, 16hp, or 20hp four-cylinder vehicles for 1903, and a similar selection of machines for 1904, which included a 5hp single cylinder option. Brush began to manufacture its own engines in 1904, when production was switched to Loughborough.
C. G. V Fernand Charron, Léonce Girardot and Émile Voigt were three successful Panhard racing drivers who launched their first car in 1901 from workshops in Puteaux, France. The vehicle shared many of the characteristics of Panhard, but to create a more streamlined profile, the radiator was mounted just above the dumbirons, and in front of a coal scuttle bonnet. It had a 3306cc, 15 / 20hp, four-cylinder engine with automatic inlet valves, a four-speed gearbox,
46 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run