Sinpar

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Automobiles Sinpar / Société Sinpar
legal form
founding 1907, 1946
resolution 1914, 1980 (takeover by Renault )
Seat Courbevoie , from 1956 Colombes , France
Branch Automobile manufacturer

Sinpar was a French company in the field of vehicle construction , which initially produced its own vehicles, in later years mainly conversions for all-wheel drive versions of cars and trucks . Sinpar has been part of Renault Véhicules Industriels (now Renault Trucks ) since 1980 .

Early years in automotive engineering

The original company Automobiles Sinpar was founded in 1907 by Léon Demeester in Neuilly-sur-Seine . The name Sinpar was derived from "sans pareil" (German: without equal ).

Sinpar produced the 4 ½ CV models with a single cylinder engine from De Dion-Bouton and 7 CV with a built-in engine from Anzani.

Company founder Léon Demeester in 1900

Already in 1905 Léon Demeester, together with Dominique Lamberjack, founded the company "Demeester & Lamberjack" in neighboring Courbevoie . Vehicles were initially manufactured here under the name Demeester , from 1912 they were named Sinpar. The 8 CV model with a four-cylinder engine , available from this year, corresponded to a Demeester model.

In 1914 Demeester was fully integrated into Sinpar, but in the same year production ended with the beginning of the First World War .

In 1920 Léon Demeester founded the automobile manufacturer Jouffret in Colombes and in 1924 took over the competitor Sidéa from Charleville-Mézières , which he then merged with Jouffret. Production of the new Sidéa-Jouffret brand ended in 1928.

Sinpar as a conversion specialist

In the following years, Léon Demeester, again under the Sinpar brand , offered the conversion of Ford and Citroën trucks . In addition to modifications to the chassis, a. additional axles, special suspensions, lubrication devices and the installation of other gearboxes are offered. After increasing production, Demeester moved into a new workshop equipped with modern machines in Courbevoie and hired several qualified employees. So he was able to manufacture drives that could be adapted to all chassis.

The Second World War stopped production again, but after the liberation of France, Léon Demeester resumed business with his son, Pierre Demeester. The year 1946 therefore is considered the founding year of the Société Sinpar .

Sinpar's range has been expanded further. a. Winches , towing and lifting attachments . Furthermore, specialization began in converting road vehicles into off-road versions. In 1956, production was relocated to Colombes, where Sinpar moved into extensive premises with a large courtyard.

The increasing demand for fuel in the 1950s led Sinpar to another business area, the construction of oilfield vehicles . These superstructures were mounted on a variety of chassis, but often on Berliet TLM, GBO, TBO and GBC , Unic ZU and Willème W6 and W8.

Another specialty was converting light trucks from Renault and Citroën into all-wheel-drive versions. These vehicles, which were rarely offered by other manufacturers, enjoyed great popularity and were widely used not only on construction sites, but also as municipal vehicles. Sinpar's business was good and the company forged ever closer relationships with the manufacturers Renault and Saviem , on whose vehicles a large part of the modifications made were soon based.

Renault 4L Sinpar by Claude and Bernard Marreau

In October 1962, the first model of a Renault 4 converted to all-wheel drive was presented at the Paris Motor Show with the approval of Renault . Renault was subsequently also responsible for the sales and maintenance of this vehicle. Initially, the conversion took place mainly on the Type 4L and was continuously adapted to its changes during the long production period of the Renault 4. After Renault took over Sinpar, this task was taken over by SOMAC.

The brothers Claude and Bernard Marreau achieved notable successes in rallying with a Renault 4L Sinpar. At the first edition of the Paris – Dakar Rally in 1979 , they achieved 2nd place in the automobile category, and in 1980 3rd place.

The Renault 12 , modified by Sinpar, were also successful and finished 3rd in the Côte d'Ivoire – Côte d'Azur Rally in 1975 and 1st and 11th in 1976.

In the mid-1960s, Sinpar brought a vehicle onto the market under its own name, the Sinpar Castor, for the first time since the early days . Around 150 of this compact all-wheel-drive van, which consists of modified Renault parts and an adapted cabin from the Estafette , were produced. In addition to the construction of local transport trucks based on the Saviem SG , Sinpar also expanded its business area to include the construction of steel transporters.

Takeover by Renault

In the 1970s, Sinpar, which now had 120 employees, distributed production to two locations: In addition to the Colombes plant, vehicles were now also converted in the former bodybuilder Rotrou's factory in Verneuil-sur-Avre .

However, when Pierre Demeester died in 1976, the future of the small company became uncertain and as a result it was taken over by the RVI and integrated into it in 1980. The Verneuil-sur-Avre site became SOMAC (Société de Montage Autos Camions), while Sinpar was moved to Chassieu near Lyon . As S ociété In dustrielle de P roduction et A daptation R hodanienne , the name Sinpar was retained until 1998.

As the successor to Sinpar, trucks are modified to special designs at the Renault plant in Bourg-en-Bresse today .

literature

  • Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The International Automobile Encyclopedia . United Soft Media Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8 .
  • George Nick Georgano (Editor-in-Chief): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 3: P – Z. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1 . (English)
  • George Nick Georgano: Cars. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris 1975. (French)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The International Automobile Encyclopedia . United Soft Media Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8 .
  2. ^ A b Georgano: The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile.
  3. ↑ a b Georgano: Cars. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Sinpar: l'as de la transformation. Fondation Berliet, accessed on October 17, 2018 .
  5. ↑ Demeester Motocyclettes. cybermotorcycle.com, accessed October 17, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Renault 4 Sinpar 4x4. la4ldesylvie.fr, accessed October 17, 2018 .
  7. ↑ (1979) Claude MARREAU / Bernard MARREAU - RENAULT 4 SINPAR n ° 131. dakardantan.com, accessed October 17, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Renault 12 SINPAR. r12passion.fr, accessed October 17, 2018 .
  9. ↑ a b La Société SINPAR. r4-4l.com, accessed October 17, 2018 .