Société Automobiles Ménara

Société Automobiles Ménara is a Moroccan automobile manufacturer based in Aïn Sebaâ, Casablanca. The business began in 1972 under the CANAM name and developed from a broad industrial and service operation into a specialist automotive company focused on low-volume, handcrafted vehicles and historical-car work. The company was established by electrician Gilbert Guzzo after he persuaded the former chief executive of Texaco to support the construction of a service station and garage serving the Moroccan market. In its early CANAM period, the business sold fuel and produced caravans and trailers. It later expanded into speedboats, amusement rides, real-estate activity, new-building construction, and the manufacture of special-purpose machinery. This diversified background gave the company experience in fabrication and custom production, but its original product range eventually became obsolete. In 1993, the business discontinued those earlier products and adopted the name Société Automobiles Ménara. It then concentrated on distinctive vehicles, particularly full-scale replicas of historic cars. Its first major project was a replica of the 1913 Peugeot Bébé, commissioned by the estate of King Hassan II. The project required larger premises, leading the company to move to a vacant factory site near its previous location. The resulting facility covers approximately 10,000 square metres, according to the cited reference material. Ménara subsequently produced 1:1 replicas of several early automobiles, including the 1912 Buick Model 35, the 1908 De Dion-Bouton Landaulet, the 1917 Buick 45 Touring, and the 1928 Citroën 5CV Trèfle. These vehicles positioned the company in a niche between automotive manufacturing, coachbuilding, historical interpretation, and bespoke craftsmanship. The company also undertook restoration projects for historic passenger cars, including a Ford Model C and a 1934 Chrysler CB, reportedly for members of the Moroccan royal family. The company returned to developing an original model in the early 2000s. The result was the Ménara WSC 2002, a hand-built, retro-styled two-seat roadster launched in 2002. The vehicle was made to customer specification and used Moroccan materials. The cited reference describes it as powered by a 1,998 cc four-cylinder petrol engine producing 88 kW, with a claimed top speed of 160 km/h. It also notes particular popularity among ambassadors and distribution primarily in North African countries, with showrooms in New York City and Toronto. Beyond vehicle production and restoration, Société Automobiles Ménara has participated in motorsport. It has supplied racing teams associated with Ferrari, Fiat, Kia Motors, and Maserati, organized events under the Automobiles Ménara Compétition name, and acted as a general importer for certain automotive marques. The reference material describes the company as employing approximately 100 people, although no dated corporate filing or current workforce source is provided here. Ménara's identity is therefore best understood as that of a Moroccan specialist automotive manufacturer and engineering workshop rather than a mass-market car brand.

Société Automobiles Ménara traces its origins to 1972, when Gilbert Guzzo founded the business under the CANAM name in Morocco. Guzzo, an electrician, had secured support for a service station and garage intended to serve the Moroccan market. CANAM initially combined fuel sales with manufacturing and fabrication activities. It built caravans and trailers, and later produced speedboats, amusement rides, special machines, and construction-related equipment. The company also pursued real-estate and building activities, making it a diversified industrial enterprise rather than a dedicated automobile producer. By the early 1990s, the original CANAM product lines had become obsolete. In 1993, the company stopped producing those products and changed its name to Société Automobiles Ménara. Its new direction was the creation of unique vehicles, especially replicas of historically significant automobiles. The first prominent project was a full-scale replica of the 1913 Peugeot Bébé, commissioned by the estate of King Hassan II. To accommodate the work, the company moved to a larger facility on a vacant factory site close to its former premises. The resulting site is described as covering 10,000 square metres. The Peugeot project established Ménara's specialist identity. The company went on to produce 1:1 replicas of a 1912 Buick Model 35, a 1908 De Dion-Bouton Landaulet, a 1917 Buick 45 Touring, and a 1928 Citroën 5CV Trèfle. These projects required the interpretation and recreation of early automotive designs rather than conventional series production. Ménara also became active in classic-car restoration. Among the vehicles attributed to its restoration work are a Ford Model C and a 1934 Chrysler CB, reportedly commissioned by the Moroccan royal family. In 2001, the company began developing an original model intended to revive the custom-built spirit associated with its earlier work. This effort produced the Ménara WSC 2002, a retro-styled roadster launched in 2002. The car was a two-seat, hand-built vehicle configured according to customer requirements. The cited description identifies a 1,998 cc four-cylinder petrol engine, 88 kW of power, and a claimed maximum speed of 160 km/h. It also states that the vehicle used Moroccan materials and attracted interest from ambassadors. Distribution was concentrated in North Africa, while showrooms in New York City and Toronto provided a North American presence. Ménara's activities extend beyond road vehicles. The company has supplied its own racing teams for automotive manufacturers including Ferrari, Fiat, Kia Motors, and Maserati. It has also organized racing events under the Automobiles Ménara Compétition banner and worked as a general importer for the relevant marques. The available reference describes a workforce of approximately 100 employees. No current official corporate website, executive roster, ownership record, financial data, or independently dated operational update is included in the source material supplied for this entry. The historical record nevertheless presents Ménara as an active Moroccan specialist manufacturer centered on handcrafted vehicles, restoration, and competition-related automotive work.

• 2002

  Ménara WSC 2002 launches

  [1]Société Automobiles Ménaraen.wikipedia.org

  Ménara introduces its retro-styled, two-seat WSC 2002 roadster as a hand-built vehicle made to customer specification.

• 2001

  Development of an original Ménara model

  [1]Société Automobiles Ménaraen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins work on its own modern vehicle design, drawing on the custom-built character of its earlier CANAM activities.

• 1993

  The company becomes Société Automobiles Ménara

  [1]Société Automobiles Ménaraen.wikipedia.org

  CANAM ends production of its earlier product lines and adopts the Société Automobiles Ménara name as it shifts toward distinctive vehicles and historic-car replicas.

• 1993

  First Peugeot Bébé replica

  [1]Société Automobiles Ménaraen.wikipedia.org

  Ménara develops a full-scale replica of the 1913 Peugeot Bébé for the estate of King Hassan II and moves to larger premises for the project.

• 1972

  CANAM is founded

  [1]Société Automobiles Ménaraen.wikipedia.org

  Gilbert Guzzo establishes the Moroccan business under the CANAM name, initially combining a service station and garage with manufacturing and fabrication activities.

A Moroccan low-volume automotive manufacturer and coachbuilder emphasizing handcrafted construction, historic-car replicas, bespoke vehicles, restoration, and motorsport-related services.

• Historic-car replica · 1993

  CANAM Ménara Peugeot Bébé replica

  A 1:1 replica of the 1913 Peugeot Bébé and the first major replica associated with the Ménara era. The project was commissioned by the estate of King Hassan II and helped establish the company's later specialization in handcrafted historical vehicles.

• Historic-car replica

  1912 Buick Model 35 replica

  A full-scale reproduction of the 1912 Buick Model 35, produced as part of Ménara's series of replicas of early automobiles. The available reference identifies the model among the company's subsequent replica projects but does not provide production volume or detailed specifications.

• Historic-car replica

  1908 De Dion-Bouton Landaulet replica

  A 1:1 replica of the 1908 De Dion-Bouton Landaulet. It belongs to Ménara's handcrafted recreation program for historically styled vehicles, with no documented production totals in the supplied material.

• Historic-car replica

  1917 Buick 45 Touring replica

  A full-scale replica of the 1917 Buick 45 Touring, made within Ménara's specialist program of recreating early automobiles. The cited source does not state the number built or whether the model remains available.

• Historic-car replica

  1928 Citroën 5CV Trèfle replica

  A 1:1 replica of the 1928 Citroën 5CV Trèfle. Like Ménara's other replicas, it reflects the company's emphasis on small-scale, handcrafted reproduction rather than conventional volume manufacturing.

• Bespoke sports roadster · 2002

  Ménara WSC 2002

  A retro-styled two-seat roadster launched in 2002. The vehicle was hand-built and equipped according to customer requirements. The cited specification lists a 1,998 cc four-cylinder petrol engine, 88 kW of power, a 5,500 rpm figure, and a claimed top speed of 160 km/h. The source also states that Moroccan materials were used and that the model was particularly popular among ambassadors.

• Automotive restoration service

  Classic-car restoration

  Ménara restores old passenger cars in addition to constructing replicas. Documented examples include a Ford Model C and a 1934 Chrysler CB, reportedly restored for the Moroccan royal family. The available material does not describe the company's current restoration catalogue or capacity.

1. 1Société Automobiles Ménaraen.wikipedia.org