Tracta
Encyclopedia
Tracta was a French car maker based in Asnières
, Seine, that was active between 1926 and 1934 . They were pioneers of front wheel drive vehicles.
The cars were designed by Jean-Albert Grégoire
and were initially built in small numbers for competition use though some were used on the road. They used a front wheel drive system featuring Grégoire's patented Tracta universal joint and sliding pillar independent front suspension and a live axle with quarter elliptic leaf springs at the rear. 1100, 1200, 1500 and 1600 cc engines made by S.C.A.P.
were available with optional Cozette supercharger
. The 1500 cc car was claimed to reach 80 mph.
The first cars were made in a workshop in Versailles but Grégoire soon moved to a small factory in Asnières. After about 140 cars were made there came a change of engines with larger six cylinder 2.7 litre units from Continental
and 3 and 3.3 litre ones from Hotchkiss
fitted in coupé and saloon bodied road cars.
The company failed to make money from car manufacture and production stopped in 1934. Grégoire kept the factory on for his design and engineering work.
In 1955 Grégoire introduced the prototype of Tracta's Sports Cabriolet, with body by Chapron, front-drive with a 2.2 liter supercharged boxer engine ahead of the front wheels. Only four cars were built.
Asnières
Asnières is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Asnières, Eure, in the Eure département* Asnières-en-Bessin, in the Calvados département* Asnières-en-Montagne, in the Côte-d'Or département...
, Seine, that was active between 1926 and 1934 . They were pioneers of front wheel drive vehicles.
The cars were designed by Jean-Albert Grégoire
Jean-Albert Grégoire
Jean-Albert Grégoire was one of the great pioneers of the front-wheel drive car. He contributed to the development of front wheel drive vehicles in two ways...
and were initially built in small numbers for competition use though some were used on the road. They used a front wheel drive system featuring Grégoire's patented Tracta universal joint and sliding pillar independent front suspension and a live axle with quarter elliptic leaf springs at the rear. 1100, 1200, 1500 and 1600 cc engines made by S.C.A.P.
S.C.A.P.
S.C.A.P. was a French manufacturer of cars, existing between 1912 and 1929.S.C.A.P mainly manufactured small four-cylinder engines, with cylinder capacities of 894 cc, and 3.0 litre engines. The factory also produced automobiles, particularly two-seater racing cars...
were available with optional Cozette supercharger
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
. The 1500 cc car was claimed to reach 80 mph.
The first cars were made in a workshop in Versailles but Grégoire soon moved to a small factory in Asnières. After about 140 cars were made there came a change of engines with larger six cylinder 2.7 litre units from Continental
Continental
Continental is the adjective form of continent.Continental may also refer to:* Continental , an album by UK band Saint Etienne* Continental , a brand of dried and pre-packaged foods used by Unilever in Australia...
and 3 and 3.3 litre ones from Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
fitted in coupé and saloon bodied road cars.
The company failed to make money from car manufacture and production stopped in 1934. Grégoire kept the factory on for his design and engineering work.
In 1955 Grégoire introduced the prototype of Tracta's Sports Cabriolet, with body by Chapron, front-drive with a 2.2 liter supercharged boxer engine ahead of the front wheels. Only four cars were built.