General
Founded in 1901 by Fernand Charron, Leonce Girardot and Emile Voigt the company was originally called C.G.V (Automobiles Charron-Girardot-Voigt) and based in Puteaux, Seine. In 1905 it had capital of 2 franc million.
1906 Girardot resigned in 1906 and the company was reformed as Automobiles Charron. It seems this may have been owned by Charron Ltd, a London quoted company.
1908 the Automobiles Charron-Girardot-Voigt company had established an agency in Wardour St, London[1]
1908 Fernand Charron left the company to join Clement-Bayard, the company of his father-in-law.
The first models were from the CGV range including the huge 16,277 cc 75hp model.
1905 Produced 14, 20, 30 and 50 h.p. models. The UK agents were the London Motor Garage Co. [2]
1908 Charron introduced their own types but some of the CGV models were still listed up to 1912. The largest now was a 6782 cc 30hp and the smallest an 8hp 1205 cc twin cylinder. All the cars were available with shaft drive and the small 8hp had a dashboard radiator of the type made familiar by Renault. This was to feature across the range in 1909.
A six cylinder 3,617 cc 30hp joined the range in 1910 and a new small 845 cc Charronette appeared in 1914.
1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices in the Uk see the 1917 Red Book
After World War I the Charronette grew to 1057 cc and the radiator was moved in front of the engine. Larger cars included 2411 cc and 3402 cc types. Four wheel brakes came in 1925.
By the late 1920s production was running down and in 1930, the final year of production the range consisted of the 12/14CV from 1925, an enlarged Charronette and a six cylinder 1806 cc model.
Early Registrations
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia