Englebert (tyre manufacturer)
Encyclopedia
Englebert was a Belgian tyre manufacturing company founded by Oscar Englebert at Liège
in 1877.
in Germany
. In 1931 the Société du Pneu Englebert (Englebert Tyre Company) was born. The company acquired a French tyre factory in Clairoix
in 1936: it was here, in 1937, that Englebert produced their millionth tyre.
After the war, in 1958, the company entered into a partnership agreement agreements with the Uniroyal
, then the one of world's top three tyre manufacturers. Ten years later, in 1966, the company's name was changed to Uniroyal Englebert. In 1979 Uniroyal sold its European business which was integrated into the Continental Tyre Company
: the Uniroyal brand survived within Continental, but the Englebert brand disappeared.
In the 1950s, Englebert were the benchmark racing tyre. The performance was exceptional and many of the top Formula One
teams of the day equipped their cars
with Englebert tyres, including Ferrari
, Lancia and Maserati
. Englebert tyres were used during 61 Grand Prix
races between 1950 and 1958, and were fitted to eight race winners, on each occasion with the Ferrari team
.
Englebert started in Formula One at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix
, with French Simca
-Gordini
drivers Robert Manzon
and Maurice Trintignant
. During 1957 Mille Miglia
, driver Alfonso de Portago
, his co-driver, and nine spectators were killed when de Portago's 4.0-litre Ferrari
335S lost control after suffering a blown tyre. The Ferrari sailed over an embankment and into the air, where it crashed into the crowd. Englebert, who had supplied the Ferrari's tyres, and Enzo Ferrari
himself were all charged with manslaughter by Italian prosecutors in an investigation that lasted until 1961, when both Ferrari and Englebert were finally cleared of charges. After the death of Stuart Lewis-Evans
in the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix
, Englebert decided to withdraw from motorsports competition entirely.
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
in 1877.
History
In 1898 Oscar Englebert, who till then had worked with rubberised coatings and mats, set up a tyre factory in Belgium, manufacturing pneumatic tyres for bicycles and automobiles, and by 1912 the business employed 400 people. By 1926 the workforce had grown to 3,500 and was one of Europe's top five rubber manufacturing businesses. In 1929, Englebert set up a second tyre plant just across the border at AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1931 the Société du Pneu Englebert (Englebert Tyre Company) was born. The company acquired a French tyre factory in Clairoix
Clairoix
Clairoix is a village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
in 1936: it was here, in 1937, that Englebert produced their millionth tyre.
After the war, in 1958, the company entered into a partnership agreement agreements with the Uniroyal
United States Rubber Company
The United States Rubber Company was founded in Naugatuck, Connecticut in 1892. It was one of the original 12 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and became Uniroyal Inc...
, then the one of world's top three tyre manufacturers. Ten years later, in 1966, the company's name was changed to Uniroyal Englebert. In 1979 Uniroyal sold its European business which was integrated into the Continental Tyre Company
Continental AG
Continental AG, internally often called Conti for short, is a worldwide leading German manufacturer of tires, brake systems, vehicle stability control systems, engine injection systems, tachographs and other parts for the automotive and transport industries. The company is based in Hanover, Germany...
: the Uniroyal brand survived within Continental, but the Englebert brand disappeared.
Racing
The company entered racing in the 1930s with Touring and Sports Car road races.In the 1950s, Englebert were the benchmark racing tyre. The performance was exceptional and many of the top Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
teams of the day equipped their cars
Formula One tyres
Formula One tyres play a significant role in the performance of a Formula One car. The tyres have undergone significant changes throughout the history of Formula One, with different manufacturers and specifications used in the sport.-History:...
with Englebert tyres, including Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
, Lancia and Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
. Englebert tyres were used during 61 Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
races between 1950 and 1958, and were fitted to eight race winners, on each occasion with the Ferrari team
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
.
Englebert started in Formula One at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix
1950 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1950 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on May 21, 1950 at Monaco. This race was the second round of 1950 World Drivers' Championship. The race, contested over 100 laps at an overall distance of 318.1 km was won by Juan Manuel Fangio for the Alfa Romeo team after starting from...
, with French Simca
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
-Gordini
Gordini
Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956....
drivers Robert Manzon
Robert Manzon
Robert Manzon is a former racing driver from France. He was born in Marseille. He participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 21, 1950. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points...
and Maurice Trintignant
Maurice Trintignant
Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...
. During 1957 Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
, driver Alfonso de Portago
Alfonso de Portago
Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago, best known as Alfonso de Portago was a racing driver from Spain.-Notable heritage:Portago was 6' tall and weighed 170 pounds . He was educated in France...
, his co-driver, and nine spectators were killed when de Portago's 4.0-litre Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
335S lost control after suffering a blown tyre. The Ferrari sailed over an embankment and into the air, where it crashed into the crowd. Englebert, who had supplied the Ferrari's tyres, and Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Anselmo Ferrari Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian race car driver and entrepreneur, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari car manufacturer...
himself were all charged with manslaughter by Italian prosecutors in an investigation that lasted until 1961, when both Ferrari and Englebert were finally cleared of charges. After the death of Stuart Lewis-Evans
Stuart Lewis-Evans
Stuart Nigel Lewis-Evans was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 14 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 May 1957. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points...
in the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix
1958 Moroccan Grand Prix
The 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Ain-Diab Circuit, Casablanca on October 19, 1958.- Classification :- Notes :* Hawthorn and Moss came into this race with a chance for the championship.** Hawthorn needed 2nd....
, Englebert decided to withdraw from motorsports competition entirely.