Decauville (France) - AllCarIndex

Decauville was a French automobile manufacturer that operated from 1898 to 1910. It was a subsidiary of the Société Decauville, which was founded in 1854 and initially specialized in engineering activities, particularly in the production of narrow-gauge railway locomotives. The automobile division was established at the end of 1897, focusing on the production of light cars designed by engineers Guedon and Cornillcau from Bordeaux.

The first model, known as the voiturelle, entered production in 1898. It featured a lightweight tubular frame and was powered by two 1.75-horsepower De Dion-Bouton engines mounted under the seat, driving the rear axle through a two-speed gearbox. Notably, it incorporated independent front suspension, a pioneering feature for petrol-engine vehicles at the time. The voiturelle was designed to seat three passengers, with one seat facing the other two. Although production was set at 600 units for the first year, only about 100 were delivered.

In subsequent years, Decauville improved its models, introducing a water-cooled engine, rear suspension, and a three-speed gearbox in 1899. The cars gained popularity and participated in town-to-town races, with some models being produced under license in Germany by Wartburg and in Italy by Marchand. By 1900, the engine was relocated to the front of the vehicle, and the company offered an 8-horsepower inline twin engine, followed by a 10-horsepower variant. The design of the voiturelle influenced later automotive developments, including aspects adopted by Henry Royce in his first car in 1904.

After 1902, Decauville transitioned to producing more conventional automobiles, featuring dual ignition and chain drive in larger models. The company continued to manufacture vehicles, including trucks and buses, with a range of models cataloged in 1906. However, production began to decline as the company struggled to keep pace with evolving automotive technology. The last cars were likely produced in 1909 or 1910, and the automobile division was officially closed in 1911.