Dasse (Belgium) - AllCarIndex

Automobiles Gerard Dasse was a Belgian automobile manufacturer founded in 1894 by Gerard Dasse in Verviers, Belgium. Initially, Dasse worked as a plumber before transitioning to manufacturing plumbing and electrical equipment. With the assistance of his two sons, Armand and Iwan, he constructed an experimental three-wheeled car featuring a single front wheel and a 2.5 horsepower horizontal single-cylinder engine.

The company progressed rapidly, producing a second three-wheeler in 1897, which had two front wheels and was inspired by a local lawyer's vehicle. By 1900, Dasse expanded its offerings to include four-wheeled cars equipped with 2-cylinder engines, electric ignition, and chain drive. The 1904 Brussels Show marked a significant milestone for the brand, where it showcased two models powered by 16 horsepower 2-cylinder and 24 horsepower 4-cylinder engines, featuring armored wooden frames and shaft drive.

In 1905, Dasse introduced a 15 horsepower 3-cylinder model, which gained popularity as a taxi and was manufactured under license in Germany as the Diirkopp-Dasse. The company became known for its distinctive round radiators starting in 1906 and also produced commercial vehicles, including a fire engine that served the Verviers fire brigade from 1906 until 1938.

By 1911, Dasse employed around 100 workers and produced over 100 vehicles annually across five different models ranging from 12 to 50 horsepower. The company continued to innovate, offering a 3560cc model with a Henriod rotary-valve engine in 1913. Following Gerard Dasse's death in 1920, his sons continued the business, introducing new models with side-valve and overhead camshaft engines.

Despite the introduction of front-wheel brakes in 1924, production numbers declined in the post-war period, with only about 20 units of the 12 horsepower model and a few of the 20 horsepower model produced annually. The last passenger car, a six-cylinder model, was manufactured in limited quantities from 1925 to 1930. In the mid-1920s, Dasse shifted its focus to commercial chassis, including those with straight-8 Lycoming engines, continuing production until the late 1930s.

After World War II, the company primarily concentrated on maintenance services until its closure in 1956, the same year Armand Dasse passed away. Iwan Dasse lived until 1964, marking the end of the Dasse family's involvement in the automotive industry.