Salmson Randonnée
Encyclopedia
The Salmson Randonnée is a luxury car produced by Société des Moteurs Salmson
from Autumn 1950 till 1954. It was introduced as the Randonnée E-72, but in February 1951 this was superseded by the broadly similar Randonnée G-72.
. This attracted a high annual taxation charge for owners resident in France. Another unusual feature of the engine, which may have reflected its manufacturer’s expertise in aircraft manufacture, was its twin overhead camshaft.
The body was of wood and metal, resting on a traditional separate chassis.
“Le Sabre” dream car. Two cars were constructed but have since been destroyed.
Salmson
Salmson was a French engineering company, initially in the automobile and aeroplane manufacturing area,turning to pump manufacturing in the 1960s.-History:...
from Autumn 1950 till 1954. It was introduced as the Randonnée E-72, but in February 1951 this was superseded by the broadly similar Randonnée G-72.
The engine
The light metal 4-cylinder in-line engine was of 2,218 cc which placed it firmly in the 13CV taxation classTax horsepower
The tax horsepower or taxable horsepower was an early system by which taxation rates for automobiles were reckoned in some European countries, such as Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, and Italy; some US states like Illinois charged license plate purchase and renewal fees for passenger...
. This attracted a high annual taxation charge for owners resident in France. Another unusual feature of the engine, which may have reflected its manufacturer’s expertise in aircraft manufacture, was its twin overhead camshaft.
The body was of wood and metal, resting on a traditional separate chassis.
The body
In 1952 the coachbuilder Esclassan exhibited a special bodied cabriolet version based on the Randonnée but inspired by the General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
“Le Sabre” dream car. Two cars were constructed but have since been destroyed.
Commercial
Government taxation policy combined with post war austerity to kill off several French auto-makers at this time, and Salmson’s experience was typical. The company produced 1,162 cars in 1950, 817 in 1951 and just 89 in 1952. By the time of the 1952 Paris Motor Show the Randonnée was the only model featured, with two cars crammed onto a very small stand, being either a sedan and a cabriolet, both unchanged since the previous year. By now the company had been obliged to enter into bankruptcy in 1951, only to be rescued by Jacques Bernard in 1952. There were high hopes of a new direction and a better future, but by 1954 the company had been forced out of the car making.The smaller Randonnée that never appeared
French taxation policy strongly discouraged cars with engines sizes of above 2 litres at this time, and Salmson scheduled the appearance at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952 of a car based on the Randonnée but modernised, slightly smaller, and featuring an engine that would place it in the 10CV taxation class. Unfortunately the financial difficulties that the manufacturer was experiencing meant that the 10CV Randonnée, which would have replaced the no longer produced Salmson S4-61 L, never made it to the show, and plans to produce the 10CV car were never implemented.Cinema
A Salmson Randonnée featured in the 1995 movie Une femme française produced by Régis WargnierRégis Wargnier
Régis Wargnier is a French film director, film producer, screenwriter, actor and film score composer.-Director:*1986 : La Femme de ma vie starring Jane Birkin*1988 : Sueurs froides...
Sources and further reading
- Salmson. La belle mécanique française, par Claude et Laurent Chevalier, édition E.T.A.I., 2010.