SALMSON

SALMSON 

Prior to the production of passenger cars made ​​famous Parisian firm Salmson aircraft engines manufactured by it. Its heyday as an auto company was in the period between the two world wars, after which she, like many other French manufacturers have slowly died in the 50s. In 1919, due to the decline in demand for military aircraft company acquired a license for the vehicle GN (G-CNN), and in 1921 began producing cars of their own design. At the same manufacturer of aircraft engines did not stop.


The logo of the British Salmson aircraft resembled the roots of the parent French company, which published during World War II aircraft engines star. In 1910 the company built a helicopter, but he never took off
Over a period of 20 s. company switched from the production of GN simple to much more complex sports cars with 4-cylinder engines. Already in the middle decades of the designers presented the first Salmson engine with two camshafts, which was used on road cars. This put the company in line with the most technologically advanced companies in the world.
Fashion on a small French sports cars in the late 20's. ended as quickly as it began. Therefore, like other French automakers, Salmson quickly turned to the manufacture of more expensive models. It was a car with a 6-cylinder engine with two camshafts, and to models with a 1.6-liter engines in the late 30s. added cars with 2.3-liter engines.


Salmson VAL3 1927 with a spring suspension - a stronger version of tsiklkara "AL"
In 30-ies. was founded the British branch of the company - British Salmson ("British Salmson"), which is collected from imported mainly from France, parts cars "12NR." Before the capture of France by German troops in 1940, the company manufactured the engines for military aircraft, but then for five years she had to work for the occupying power. Surprisingly, after the 1945 financial affairs of the company were in order, and she quickly retooled to produce passenger cars, which were the basis of pre-war design.


British Salmson Tourer ("British Salmson tourer") with a 2.6-liter engine. This is one of the last built in 1939 copies
After the war, the demand for its cars with unusual shapes preserved. In 1950 the company sold about a thousand cars Salmson. Soon, because of changing economic situation, the French have come to prefer unusual sports car coupe Renault ("Renault") and Citroen ("Citroen"). This forced the company to offer a more traditional car Randonnee ("Randonne"), and in 1953 released coupe "2300S". Special versions of "G85" won many victories in rally stages in 1953-54.


Introduced in 1937, 6-cylinder engine with two camshafts (2590 cm3) was unusual for a British Salmson. The French government effectively opposed the use of large displacement engines
His design had a great influence on the style of the first cars Facel Vega ("Fasel Run"), While "2300S" and his version of the roadster with the body turned out to be a very successful car class "Grand Touring", the level of sales was low. The reason for that - an old design. In 1956 Salmson car plant was purchased by Renault, and early next year has been collected the last car of this brand.
Salmson Grand Sport ("Salmson Grand Sport"), 1923-1940
Small sports Grand Sport model for the technical level significantly ahead of most modern cars of different classes of them as high-speed engines staffed with two overhead camshafts. In fact, Salmson Grand Sport became the first road car with the motor. Their production company started 4 years after the appearance of the first machines with the logo Salmson. With a wheelbase 2.64 m and a lack of front overhang, they soon became a role model, because at the time of these machines were not allowed.
Except for the engine design Grand Sport was completely normal: short flexible frame, cantilever spring rear suspension, and the lack of front brakes, which was the norm in those days. The engine design was inspired by the famous French motor racing, including the Peugeot GT ("Peugeot"). He had a cast-iron cylinder head with hemispherical combustion chambers, and set at an angle of 90 ° flaps. Strange, but until the late 20's. Crank the engine had only two feet. Was later added another pillar.
First, the engine developed a low power of 36 hp In the block with a 3-speed transmission with a cone clutch it significantly limited the performance car. The supreme achievement of these machines were second and third place in the Le Mans winning race after a 3-liter Bentley ("Bentley"). Despite the fact that in the 20s. France had the nicest roads in Europe, the production of this model has always been small. For eight years the company has built a total of about 2.7 thousand cars Grand Sport.


Salmson Grand Sport 1923

Characteristics (1923)
Engine: P4, two overhead camshafts
Bore and Stroke: 62x90 mm
Displacement: 1087 cm3
Maximum power: 36 hp
Transmission: 3-speed manual
Chassis: the steel frame
Suspension: dependent, semi-elliptic in front, rear leaf springs chetvertellipticheskih
Brakes: Rear drum
Body: 2-seater open
Maximum speed: 113 km / h
Salmson 2300 ("Salmson 2300 '), 1953-1957
Immediately after the second world war the company resumed production of its Model 30's. with the famous engine with two camshafts. In 1951 came the first post-war development of the car - passenger Randonnee. Although he has modernized the engine, weighing due to the wide use of aluminum is 50 pounds less, success was not followed. This is cumbersome and a good wagon popular with the French did not use.
In 1953 the company introduced its latest model "2300"-class car "Grand Touring" in miniature. The shape of its body fastback later came into vogue. At that time the car has not departed in the war France has attracted much attention.


Design coupe "2300" was repeated in the later cars companies Facel Vega, Ferrari ("Ferrari") and Pegaso ("Pegasus")
When you save the engine from the model Randonnee, whose power has increased to 105 hp, new undercarriage was completely new. The car was the gearbox Cotal ("Kotal") with an electromagnetic switching and torsion front suspension. Body Salmson in 2300 anticipated the design emerged after the big coupe Facel Vega, and soon the company introduced its version of the roadster body.
By the standards of the early 50's. Model "2300", especially in the performance roadster was fast. Despite the success of the national rally, it prevented the sale of high price. In addition, potential buyers should be aware that at the present appearance of the car is technically outdated. For five years the company produced only 227 copies of the brand. In 1956 the company acquired the Renault factory in Biyyankure and next year the final assembly of cars stopped Salmson.


Model "2300" was probably the best product of Salmson, but the policy of the French government led to the ruin of the manufacturers of these unusual vehicles

Characteristics (1953)
Engine: P4, two overhead camshafts
Bore and Stroke: 84x105 mm
Displacement: 2327 cm3
Maximum Power: 105 hp
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Chassis: the steel frame
Suspension: front independent torsion bar, rear-dependent spring
Brakes: drum
Body: 2-door 4-seater
Maximum speed: 161 km / h