Chatel-Jeannin (Germany) - AllCarIndex

Chatel-Jeannin was a French automobile manufacturer that operated briefly between 1902 and 1903, based in Mulhouse, Alsace. The company, officially known as Compagnie de Construction d’Automobiles Chatel-Jeannin, focused on producing innovative vehicles during the early years of the automotive industry.

The vehicles produced by Chatel-Jeannin featured a 7-horsepower single-cylinder horizontal engine, which was notable for its design that included two closely placed flywheels with the connecting rod head situated between them. The engine, along with a 2-speed gearbox and differential, was enclosed in an aluminum casing mounted on the rear axle, providing a clean aesthetic as no mechanical parts were visible. Maintenance access was facilitated by a removable panel in the casing.

The chassis of Chatel-Jeannin cars was tubular, and the body design included two basket-work armchair seats. Additionally, the company offered a four-seater tonneau model, which was equipped with a more powerful 12-horsepower two-cylinder engine located beneath the driver's seat. This model utilized a double chain transmission system to drive the rear axle. Although the manufacturer claimed a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) for their vehicles, this figure was likely an optimistic assessment.

Despite its short-lived production run, Chatel-Jeannin contributed to the early development of automotive engineering in France.