Well, no Ford Flathead engine for this one but still: quite a sporty looking pre-war car. On display here is, according to the base it’s mounted on, the 1938 Georges Irat Roadster in OLC3 trim. Which is a bit odd as I always thought this (OLC3) last iteration of the Roadster was introduced in 1939.
In the short period of existence for the Georges Irat company, it was an immediate struggle for survival. Founded in 1921 and taken over in 1934 already by the Godefroy et Levecque to use the cars to host Godefroy et Levecque’s Ruby engines. These either 954cc or 1097cc engines were no powerhorses so the Georges Irat company came up with two nimble sporty cars, either a cabriolet or this roadster.
Wait, what’s with the door on the roadster? There isn’t any? Wrong, there is one. It’s just not on... The driver’s side? No idea what French genius came up with this idea and what’s the idea behind that but it’s... Weird? If anyone knows the story behind this: Please share!
UPDATE by Small Scale Sydney:
That’s actually not so uncommon among small Roadsters of the 1920s and 1930s. The (naturally male) driver was supposed to swing over the side - or enter via curb side, if he was a bit of a sissy. The (presumably) female passenger needed the door - so she wouldn’t “reveal too much” while climbing over the side. It saved cost and weight, too.
Despite being pre-war these already were FWD cars. And suspension was 4 wheel independent so it was quite an advanced little car. It’s 3-speed gearbox was mounted ahead of the engine, and the driveshafts that power the front wheels are driven directly off the end of the gearbox. Another feature I didn’t expect from a pre-war car: It has a combination starter motor which is also the generator.
The little roadster seemed to be Georges Irat’s salvation as they sold many of these: over 1,500 units were made (although one French source claims 700). Georges Irat had another six-cylinder car in his line-up as well but that one was barely sold. As said: This OLC3 was the last generation (next to the slightly tamer ODU) and it came with a totally new engine: Citroën’s 56hp 1911cc unit from the Traction Avant 11CV.
Next to the Citroën’s engine a transmission from that brand with the double chevron was obtained as well. The brakes were uprated to a hydraulic system. And then, after 100 OLC3's produced... Came World War II.
Things would never be the same for the little company. No production was done during the war and after it only some prototypes were shown in the ‘46, ‘47 and ‘49 Mondial de l’automobile de Paris. None of those reached production though. Officially it ended in 1952, after Georges Irat tried to found a company to produce the Voiture du Bled, a little three-seat jeep-like car made in Morocco. Didn’t help either. I’d like to find such a VdB in 1/43 though!
The model is from Altaya, supplier of many great more or less forgotten French manufacturers. There was one failure with this one: the initially provided “diorama”-card (with specifications) wasn’t from this Georges Irat but from Ligier’s JS2. That would have been great: A 3-liter V6 from Maserati in this little car, would have made the ultimate Hot Rod to me!
It’s front axle is a bit wobbly and my Formula 1 driver (René Arnoux) didn’t completely fit so I left out the panning shots today. It’s other details are good enough for me, keeping in mind it’s such a cheap 1/43. These usually go for slightly over 12 euros.
And okay, one Prisma attempt, thanks Edu!
That’s it for my return on French Friday. It’s been a bit slow lately for French Friday last few weeks so I hope today we’ll see some more. Surprise me. Bon Week-end and yes: There’s a Spaghetti Sunday coming up!!!
