Car manufacturers - France: books - history (1/2)

Amedee Gordini - A True Racing Legend

This book tells the story of Amédée Gordini, a key figure in motorsport, driven by passion and determination.
It follows his journey from his early days in racing to 1969, when Renault acquired his company and kept the Gordini name on racing engines until 1986. The name was revived in 2009 for sporty versions of the Twingo and Clio.

The book features numerous period photos from major collections, English transcripts of interviews, recollections from former employees, and a complete set of technical and racing statistics.

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Farman - de l'aviation à l'automobile

The Farman brothers are well known for their role in aviation, but less so for their automotive work. Between the World Wars, they produced one of the most luxurious French cars of the era, rivaling Hispano-Suiza.

They began in car trading and racing during the Belle Époque, then entered aviation by founding the Société des Aéroplanes Henri et Maurice Farman.

This book traces the history of their car, illustrated with the largest collection of Farman vehicle photos ever assembled.
It focuses on the Farman automobile: its designer Charles Waseige, the launch, technical features, variants, press and public reception, success in concours d'élégance, involvement in motorsport, and development of an innovative follow-up model.

The book also covers their aircraft engines, the Alda 18 hp as the "little sister" model, and the company's hydrofoils.

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Cycles, motos, automobiles Alcyon, reine du Tour (Collection Prestige)

Founded in 1903 by Edmond Gentil, Alcyon was a globally known French brand of bicycles and motorcycles. It quickly stood out through innovation, strong marketing, and outstanding racing results.
With 13 Tour de France victories, 18 Paris-Roubaix wins, and many more, Alcyon was a dominant force in cycling. In motorcycling, the brand also achieved numerous titles and records, including the first-ever world championship. Before World War I, Alcyon also produced notable cars.

Z.L. (Zürcher & Lüthi), founded in Switzerland by Ernest Zürcher, was a key engine manufacturer. It supplied all major early motorcycle brands in Europe, including Minerva, Peugeot, Terrot, NSU, Alcyon, and Brough. Zedel, its successor, produced remarkable automobiles.

In 1907, Alcyon and Z.L. joined forces. The book traces their combined industrial journey and impact.
It also discusses the rivalry with Peugeot in cycling. Despite fierce competition, the authors argue that Alcyon outperformed Peugeot and remains a benchmark in cycling history.

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Les marques emblématiques disparues

Each of us drives a modern, sophisticated car today with the latest technologies, GPS, power brakes and steering, anti-skid system... All this is the result of advanced research but also of the experience acquired by the generations that preceded us at a time when everything had to be invented and this is the case for the automobile.

You will discover in this book the most emblematic cars in which our parents or grandparents drove, transported us when we were little: Delahaye, Bugatti, Delage, Hispano Suiza But also the more recent ones that you used: Simca, Panhard, Facel Vega, Matra..., and which no longer exist except in museums or piously preserved by collectors.

Discover these cars from a time when specialist coachbuilders made "works of art", Chapron, Saoutchik, Letourneur et Marchand, Figoni Falaschi...
Discover in this book these emblematic models that populate our wildest dreams. A book that presents their history, their technical aspect, their characteristics and the intoxicating beauty of their bodywork.

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Clément Bayard, pionnier industriel

Adolphe Clément (1855-1928), orphaned at a young age, was a self-made man. By age 45, he was France's leading bicycle manufacturer, then turned to the automobile industry. He built modern factories in Mézières and Levallois, considered the largest in Europe at the time. In 1908, he entered aviation. His "A.C." monogram stood over his factory gates.

World War I ruined him, but he recovered. He passed his factories to a young engineer, André Citroën, who aimed to produce affordable cars. Clément became his banker and sold him the plants - remarking the initials didn't even need changing.

Based on years of research in public, institutional (including Aéro-Club de France), and family archives, this book traces the life of Clément and the history of his company.

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