Automobiles Rally

Automobiles Rally was a French sporting-car manufacturer based in Colombes, a northwestern suburb of Paris. Founded in 1921 by engineer Eugène Affovard Asnière, the company belonged to the interwar generation of specialist manufacturers that built compact, technically distinctive automobiles for customers interested in performance, light weight, and competition use. Rally operated in a crowded French market that included cyclecar and small-sporting-car makers such as Amilcar, B.N.C., and Salmson. Rally's first car was a classic cyclecar powered by a 989 cc Harley-Davidson V-twin engine. From 1922 onward, the company generally used proprietary engines and transmissions supplied by outside manufacturers, including Chapuis-Dornier, CIME, Ruby, and S.C.A.P. This approach allowed a small producer to offer different performance specifications without developing every major mechanical component itself. Early Rally cars were characterized by long, low, sleek bodies, lightweight construction, and two-seat layouts. On some early examples, the passenger seat was positioned farther rearward than the driver's seat; this arrangement was later revised to improve passenger comfort. The company became best known for its underslung sporting cars. At the 1926 Paris Salon it displayed the Grand Sport, equipped with a supercharged 1,093 cc Chapuis-Dornier engine producing approximately 70 PS. Its claimed top speed was around 180 km/h, an impressive figure for a small car of the period. Production began in 1927 and remained limited, with approximately 14 to 16 Grand Sports built. Rally also introduced the ABC in 1927. The name referred to its lowered, or underslung, chassis, and the model could be ordered with several inline-four engines ranging from approximately 1.1 to 1.5 litres. Supercharging was available on some versions. The ABC was discontinued in 1930. Rally subsequently moved toward somewhat sturdier cars. From 1931, the N series used a 1,300 cc twin-cam Salmson S4 engine, a four-speed gearbox, and, in many cases, both Rally and Salmson branding on the grille. The range included the standard N, the shorter-wheelbase NC, and the more powerful NCP. A proposed or briefly offered R series used a 1,480 cc S.C.A.P. straight-eight, although its production status is uncertain. At Rally's final Paris Motor Show appearance in 1932, the R15 was shown with the 1,466 cc Salmson S4-C engine, while smaller N-series cars remained available. Rally supported its commercial identity through motor racing and hill-climb participation. Its cars competed in events including the Mille Miglia, the Belgian 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, the Monte-Carlo Rally, and various French and European sporting events. Rally cars achieved class victories and podium finishes, although competition expenditure appears to have placed pressure on the company's finances. Rally was unable to withstand the economic crisis of the early 1930s and ceased trading in 1933 or possibly 1934. Many surviving cars have been preserved and continue to appear at historic motoring events.

Automobiles Rally was founded in 1921 in Colombes by engineer Eugène Affovard Asnière. It emerged during the expansion of the French cyclecar and lightweight sporting-car market, when small specialist companies sought to offer economical but sporting alternatives to larger automobiles. Rally's first product used a 989 cc Harley-Davidson V-twin engine. Beginning in 1922, later cars adopted engines and transmissions from specialist suppliers, including Chapuis-Dornier, CIME, Ruby, and S.C.A.P. The early cars were light, low, and visually elongated, generally seating two people. Their design emphasized sporting character rather than family practicality. Early examples placed the passenger seat slightly behind the driver's seat, although Rally later altered the arrangement to improve comfort. Mechanical drum brakes and three-speed manual transmissions were typical of the company's cars during the 1920s. Rally's most notable technical period began with the Grand Sport, displayed at the 1926 Paris Salon and produced from 1927. Its underslung chassis and supercharged 1,093 cc Chapuis-Dornier engine gave it approximately 70 PS and a reported top speed of about 180 km/h. Production was extremely limited, with roughly 14 to 16 examples built, and several are known to survive. The 1927 Rally ABC extended the underslung concept into a broader range. It was offered with 1,093, 1,170, or 1,494 cc inline-four engines, with Roots superchargers available for certain configurations. The cars used short wheelbases of approximately 2.3 to 2.5 metres. A 31 PS 1,100 cc version could reach about 135 km/h. The ABC name referred to the lowered chassis, and the series remained in the catalogue until 1930. From 1931, Rally adopted Salmson's 1,300 cc twin-cam S4 engine for the N series. These cars were more robust than the delicate ABC models and gained four-speed gearboxes. The range included the standard N, the shorter NC, and the higher-performance NCP. Salmson permitted Rally to use its name in advertising, so some cars carried both manufacturers' badges. Rally also announced an R series with a 1,480 cc S.C.A.P. straight-eight, although it may not have progressed beyond prototype or very limited production. The R15, shown at the 1932 Paris Motor Show, used the 1,466 cc Salmson S4-C engine. Competition was central to Rally's identity. ABC cars took part in the 1932 and 1933 Mille Miglia and achieved a third-place finish in the 1929 Double Twelve at Brooklands. Rally N cars competed in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 1931 and 1932 and won their class on both occasions. Rally entries also recorded class or event successes at La Turbie, the Paris-Nice Criterium, and the Vichy Concours d'Elegance. Cars appeared at Le Mans in 1932 and 1933, while an NCP entered the 1934 race but failed to finish. Rally-affiliated entries also appeared in the Monte-Carlo Rally and the 1935 Grand Prix de Lorraine, after the company itself had ceased normal operations. The company remained small and its production was limited. Competition activity appears to have consumed resources at a time when the Great Depression sharply weakened demand for discretionary sporting automobiles. Rally closed in 1933 or 1934. Its surviving cars are valued as rare examples of interwar French specialist engineering and continue to be used in historic motoring events.

• 1933

  Company closes

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Rally ceased trading during the economic depression; some references give 1934 as the final year.

• 1932

  R15 shown at final Paris Motor Show appearance

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  The R15 debuted with a 1,466 cc Salmson S4-C engine while smaller N models remained available.

• 1931

  N series introduced

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Rally launched the Salmson-powered N family, including the shorter NC and more powerful NCP variants.

• 1930

  ABC series retired

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Rally discontinued the ABC range after its production run.

• 1927

  Grand Sport production begins and ABC introduced

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Limited Grand Sport production began, while the ABC range brought several engine options to Rally's underslung-car concept.

• 1926

  Grand Sport shown at Paris Salon

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Rally presented the underslung Grand Sport with a supercharged Chapuis-Dornier engine.

• 1922

  Proprietary-supplier powertrains adopted

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Rally's subsequent cars began using engines and transmissions supplied by specialist manufacturers such as Chapuis-Dornier, CIME, Ruby, and S.C.A.P.

• 1921

  Company founded

  [1]Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org

  Eugène Affovard Asnière founded Automobiles Rally in Colombes, France.

A specialist French maker of lightweight, low-built sporting cars positioned around elegant design, compact dimensions, mechanical performance, and competition capability.

• Cyclecar · 1921

  First Rally cyclecar

  Rally's first automobile was a lightweight classic cyclecar fitted with a 989 cc Harley-Davidson V-twin engine. It established the company's early focus on compact dimensions, low weight, and sporting use. From 1922 onward, Rally moved toward engines and transmissions supplied by other specialist manufacturers.

• Sporting automobile · 1926

  Grand Sport

  The Grand Sport was Rally's most exclusive 1920s model. Displayed at the 1926 Paris Salon and built from 1927, it used an underslung chassis and a supercharged 1,093 cc Chapuis-Dornier engine rated at approximately 70 PS. Its reported top speed was around 180 km/h. Production was very limited, estimated at roughly 14 to 16 cars.

• Underslung sporting automobile · 1927

  ABC

  Introduced in 1927, the ABC used Rally's lowered chassis design and was available with 1,093, 1,170, or 1,494 cc inline-four engines. Roots superchargers were available on some versions. Wheelbases varied from approximately 2.3 to 2.5 metres, and a 1,100 cc version producing about 31 PS could reach roughly 135 km/h. The range was discontinued in 1930.

• Sporting automobile range · 1931

  N, NC, and NCP

  Introduced from 1931, the N family replaced the more delicate ABC with somewhat sturdier construction and a 1,300 cc twin-cam Salmson S4 engine. A four-speed gearbox became standard. The NC used a shorter wheelbase, while the NCP was the short-wheelbase performance variant. Some cars displayed both Rally and Salmson branding.

• Sporting automobile · 1932

  R15

  The R15 was shown at Rally's final Paris Motor Show appearance in 1932. It used the 1,466 cc Salmson S4-C engine and represented the company's attempt to update its range during the difficult early 1930s. Smaller N-series models continued to be offered alongside it.

• 1933

  Cease automobile productionStrategy

  Background

  The Great Depression reduced the viability of small specialist sporting-car manufacturers, and Rally had also committed substantial resources to competition activity.

  Action taken

  The company was shuttered after its final operating period, generally dated to 1933 or 1934.

  Aftermath

  Rally disappeared as a manufacturer, while surviving cars became historic vehicles used in classic motoring events.

  Source

• 1931

  Replace the ABC with the Salmson-powered N familyGeneration change

  Background

  The ABC was a delicate underslung car, and Rally sought a somewhat sturdier model for the new decade.

  Action taken

  Rally introduced the N, NC, and NCP models using a 1,300 cc Salmson S4 twin-cam engine and four-speed gearbox.

  Aftermath

  The N family became the company's principal late-period range, while Rally continued to face the wider economic pressures of the Depression.

  Source

• 1922

  Shift toward externally supplied powertrainsStrategy

  Background

  As a small specialist manufacturer, Rally needed to develop sporting cars without independently producing every engine and transmission.

  Action taken

  The company adopted engines and transmissions from suppliers including Chapuis-Dornier, CIME, Ruby, and S.C.A.P.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement supported Rally's range of lightweight sporting cars and enabled different performance specifications.

  Source

1. 1Automobiles Rallyen.wikipedia.org