Buchet (France) - AllCarIndex

Buchet was a French automobile manufacturer founded in 1888, initially established to produce electric arc lamps invented by Elie Victor Buchet. The company transitioned to engine manufacturing in 1899, creating overhead conversions of the De Dion-Bouton engine and developing proprietary engines. Over the next decade, Buchet supplied engines to various car manufacturers, including Boyer, Chainless, and Reyrol. In 1902, the company produced a notable tricycle powered by a 4245cc two-cylinder engine, which was likely a one-off model. Buchet also ventured into aviation, supplying engines for Santos Dumont's airship in 1901 and developing a V8 aero-engine in 1906.

The first complete four-wheeled vehicle from Buchet was introduced in 1910, followed by a 12/20 hp model featuring a 2176cc four-cylinder monobloc engine and a three-speed gearbox. The company also produced smaller cars with engine capacities of 1 and 1.5 liters, with the former being exported to England and bodied by Hollingdrake of Southport under the name ASCOT in 1914 and 1915.

In 1919, Buchet was acquired by Gaston Saillly, who relocated the operations to a new factory in Billancourt. The company then offered a range of conventional cars, primarily featuring four-cylinder engines of 1131cc and 1460cc, along with a six-cylinder model from 1928 to 1930. The larger four-cylinder model, known as the Type B2, saw an increase in bore size in 1923, raising its capacity to 1550cc, and introduced front-wheel brakes on the B4 in 1924. Despite their aesthetic appeal, characterized by wire wheels and a curved radiator, Buchet cars struggled to compete with mass producers and ultimately ceased operations in the early 1930s.