Bernardet (France) - AllCarIndex

Automobiles Bernardet was a French automobile manufacturer based in Chitillon-sous-Bagneux, Seine, that operated from 1946 to 1950. Founded by the Bernardet brothers, the company initially specialized in the production of sidecars from 1922 until 1946, and later expanded into the manufacture of scooters from 1949 to 1955.

The company's foray into car production resulted in a notable 3-seater roadster, which was powered by a 798cc side-valve flat-four engine that drove the front wheels. This vehicle featured several advanced characteristics for its time, including rack-and-pinion steering, all-independent suspension, and a four-speed synchromesh gearbox. In 1947, the engine capacity was increased to 848cc, and by 1949, a 746cc four-cylinder two-stroke engine was introduced, designed by Marcel Violet, who was known for his work with SIMA VIOLET. This engine was mounted transversely, a design choice that anticipated similar configurations used in later vehicles, such as the Mini, by a decade.

Despite the innovative design and engineering of their car, Automobiles Bernardet faced regulatory challenges. The French government did not grant them the necessary approval to produce their vehicle, as the Renault 4CV was selected as the sole permitted sub-1-litre four-cylinder car. Ultimately, only three prototypes of the Bernardet roadster were constructed, marking a brief but significant chapter in the history of French automotive manufacturing.