Automobiles Rally

History and products

Eugène Affovard Asnière, an engineer, founded the company in 1921. His first vehicle was a cyclecar powered by a 989 cc Harley-Davidson V-twin engine. From 1922 onward, most Rally cars used proprietary engines and transmissions from suppliers such as Chapuis-Dornier, CIME, Ruby, or S.C.A.P., typically of about 1.1 litres. Early models were long, sleek, and light, seating two passengers; the passenger seat was initially set slightly farther back than the driver's, a layout later changed for comfort.

At the 1926 Paris Salon, the underslung Grand Sport appeared with a supercharged 1,093 cc Chapuis-Dornier engine producing 70 PS, enabling a top speed of roughly 180 km/h. Between 14 and 16 Grand Sports were built from 1927, and three survive. Mechanical drum brakes and a three-speed manual transmission were standard on Rally cars of the 1920s. The 1927 Rally ABC, whose name signified abaissée (lowered), offered three inline-four engine options of 1,093, 1,170, or 1,494 cc, with Roots superchargers available for some.

Wheelbases ranged from 2.3 to 2.5 m, and a 31 PS "1100" could reach about 135 km/h. The ABC series ended in 1930. From 1931, the Rally N models used a 1,300 cc twin-cam Salmson S4 engine, paired with a four-speed gearbox; these cars often carried both "Rally" and "Salmson" logos.

The N was offered in a short-wheelbase NC version and a more powerful NCP variant. An R-series with a 1,480 cc straight-eight from S.C.A.P. may have remained a prototype. At the 1932 Paris Motor Show, the Rally R15 appeared with a 1,466 cc Salmson S4-C engine, while the N series continued. The company closed in 1933 or 1934, partly due to spending on competition efforts.

Competition

The Rally ABC made its mark in the 1932 and 1933 Mille Miglia, and also took third and fourth place at the San Sebastián Grand Prix. Another ABC model secured third in the 1929 “Double Twelve” at Brooklands, a 24-hour race split into two daytime segments. The Rally type N competed in the Belgium Grand-Prix 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in both 1931 and 1932, winning the under-2000 cc class each time.

In 1931, Ms. Lagoute claimed her class victory at the La Course de côte internationale de la Turbie. The following year, M. Ledur won the 1500 cc class at the Criterium international Paris-Nice. That same year, Ms. Lagoute entered the Grand-Prix international automobile du Cap d'Antibes-Juan-les-Pins and also earned the top prize for convertibles at the Concours d'Elégance de Vichy. A Rally type N appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1932 and 1933.

In 1934, a Rally NCP fitted with a 984 cc Salmson engine entered Le Mans but failed to finish. Jean Danne registered for the 1933 Monte-Carlo Rallye, starting from Valencia, Portugal. Finally, in 1935, Emile Scordel won the 1500 cc sport class at the Grand-Prix de Lorraine - Seichamps.