Tifositteaser #5<SOLVED> 1953 PANHARD VOITURE DU BLED/GEORGES IRAT

[Tifosi]

Can you identify this cute little bugger?

[Tifosi]

 




Dan

[grobmotorix]

no 

maybe french, maybe some military prototype...

[Otto Puzzell]

Prototype Georges Irat

[Tifosi]

It is French, but not aware of any military or Georges Irat connection...


Dan

[JR]

This appears to be a Georges Irat "Voiture du Bled" also known as a VDB. I thought it looked familiar as I remember seeing it at Retromobile last year where I believe this picture was taken. The VDB was Panhard Dyna based and produced in Morocco between 1950-1953, but I think this version was a later prototype dating from 1953. The 50-53 models looked a lot different.

JR

[Tifosi]

I think it's time to call this one solved...I went to Retromoblie and Wikipedia, and am convinced that this car is indeed a Georges Irat Voiture du Bled.  The original source I used identified the car as a Panhard Voiture du Bled from 1950.  My research since then has uncovered the fact that while Panhard et Levassor may have planned the vehicle,Georges Irat actually built it..  So, I'm giving both Karn and JR a point apiece.

Here's the link to my original post: www.bushjp.free.fr/retro2006.htm

Some puzzles are more complex than others, I'm finding out...all part of the fun.


Dan

[Tifosi]

Here are more shots of the car:

[grobmotorix]

A 1954 photo:

[thorax]

where was this car presented? in what year? which engine was used? for a point

[BERTRAND]

1950 Georges irat la voiture du bled, with panhard dyna 2 cyl. 610cc engine

[thorax]

sorry but I cannot find my source...

[BERTRAND]

?

[thorax]

the car is right, the year is wrong: locked for Bertrand

[BERTRAND]

Thorax, are you sure on your source.
La voiture du bled was presented for the first time in 1950 at the Salon de Paris 1950, but the prototype was presented in 1946 in Paris salon
I put in copy my source:

A prototype with an 1100 cc flat four engine driving the front wheels was shown at the October 1946 Paris Salon. It reappeared at the 1947 Motor Show looking broadly similar but the front panels were slightly reworked and the headlights were covered over with an extra layer of glass in order to present a smoother profile.[2] Under the bonnet/hood the engine had now been replaced by a 1996 cc 4-cylinder in-line unit featuring a twin overhead camshaft and driving, now, the rear wheels via a more conventional transmission.[2] At this time the French auto-industry was subject to extensive government intervention, and in this dirigiste context Georges Irat thought that the larger-engined car might be classified by the government, which controlled supplies of materials necessary for auto-production, as an "exceptional car reserved in the first instance for export" [2][3] However, the car never entered production even though it re-appeared at the 1949 show.

In 1950 Georges Irat announced the VdB or "Voiture du Bled" made by a new company, Société Chérifienne George Irat in Casablanca, Morocco. This was a jeep-like three-seat vehicle powered by a rear-mounted Panhard engine. Only a few were made up to 1953. The engine was originally of 610 cc and 28 PS (21 kW), which meant a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). It could climb a 40% grade and ford a 60 cm (24 in) deep stream.[4] The vehicle later received updated bodywork, and the car displayed at the 1953 Paris Show had a 745 cc version of the Panhard engine, producing 33 PS (24 kW). With 80 L (21 US gal) and 40 L (11 US gal) in reserve, the effective range of the VdB was 1,500 km (930 mi). It was rear-wheel drive only, but had a locking differential and a low gear transfer case for its three-speed gearbox.[4]

[BERTRAND]

1946

[thorax]

later

[BERTRAND]

1947

[thorax]

later  (this one was the second version)

[BERTRAND]

1953

[thorax]

this is the right year , one point for you

[Wendax]

Merged and year in the old puzzle's headline corrected

[thorax]