Dufaux (Switzerland) - AllCarIndex

Ch. & F. Dufaux Frères was a Swiss automobile manufacturer founded by brothers Charles and Frédéric Dufaux in Geneva in 1904. The Dufaux brothers, both passionate sportsmen, initially operated a garage and served as agents for various motorcycle brands before venturing into automobile production. Their first significant project was a racing car designed in collaboration with Piccard & Pictet, which featured an innovative straight-8 engine configuration, a pioneering design at the time.

The Dufaux- Pictet racing car, equipped with an 8-cylinder in-line engine, was intended to compete in the Gordon Bennett Cup in 1904. Although it did not participate due to a mechanical failure, Frédéric Dufaux set a Swiss speed record of 71 mph (115 km/h) in a separate event. In late 1904, the company introduced two passenger car models, a 15 hp and a 35/40 hp, both featuring 4-cylinder engines. The 35 hp model was showcased at the first Geneva Automobile Salon in 1905, alongside an 80 hp racing car and an unfinished 150 hp model.

Despite ambitious plans to compete in the 1905 Gordon Bennett race, the Dufaux brothers faced organizational challenges that prevented their cars from being nominated. The 150 hp racer was eventually completed and shipped to England for speed trials but failed to perform as expected. In November 1905, however, the Dufaux brothers achieved a significant milestone by setting a land speed record of 156.522 km/h (97.2 mph) in southern France, although this record was later removed from official lists for unclear reasons.

In 1906, Dufaux Frères presented several new models, including an 8-cylinder racer and a 16 hp open tourer. Despite their innovative designs and achievements, the company struggled with economic difficulties and competition from larger manufacturers, leading to its closure in 1907. The legacy of Dufaux Frères continued, as some of their designs influenced subsequent automotive developments, and examples of their racing cars are preserved in museums, including the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse and the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz in Lucerne.