Crouan (France) - AllCarIndex

Crouan was a French automobile manufacturer that operated from 1897 to 1904, based in Paris. The company, officially known as Stcdes Motcurset Automobiles Crouan, produced a range of vehicles during its brief existence.

The first model introduced by Crouan featured a rear-mounted 2-cylinder engine. By the year 1900, the company expanded its offerings to include two distinct models, both equipped with advanced features for their time. One of these was a 5-horsepower single-cylinder voiturette, which incorporated an automatic advance and retard ignition system. The other model was a more powerful 16-horsepower 2-cylinder car, which also utilized a similar automatic ignition system and was notable for its pneumatic transmission.

In 1901, Crouan introduced the 5-horsepower model, which included a small 'spyder' seat positioned behind the front seats and boasted five forward speeds. However, the specifics of the transmission system—whether it was a conventional sliding gearbox or a belt system—remained uncertain. By 1903, the company continued to advertise five-speed models, offering a 6.5-horsepower twin and a 16-horsepower four-cylinder vehicle, both of which featured front-mounted horizontally opposed engines. Despite its innovative designs, Crouan ceased operations shortly thereafter, leaving behind a limited but noteworthy legacy in the early automotive industry.