Sizaire-Naudin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suizaire Freres et Naudin was a French automobile manufacturer based in Paris between 1905 and 1921.
Sizaire-Naudin was founded by Maurice (1877-1970) and Georges Sizaire (1880-1924) and Louis Naudin (1876-1913) in around 1900. The company was registered in 1903. The partners had experimented with a car in 1902 or 1903 but it was not until 1905 that the first ones were offered for sale and shown at the Paris Salon in that year.
The first cars were basic single cylinder vehicles with a 1244 cc (76 in3) De Dion-Bouton engine and independent front suspension by transverse leaf springs and sliding pillar, identical to earlier Decauvilles. A unique gearbox used an integral 3 speed differential - 3 straight cut pinions brought to bear in turn on a single large straight cut crown wheel.
Orders were good and the company received backing to move to larger premises from bicycle importers Hammond et Monnier who soon afterwards sold the firm to the Duc d'Uzes and from 1907 the family crest appeared on the radiator surround.
They enjoyed great success in early voiturette races with rules which limited cylinder bore but did not specify stroke length.
By 1911 the single cylinder format was outmoded, and an attempt to fit a four cylinder 1847 cc Ballot engines did not result in significantly increased sales.
After World War I production restarted with a new company, Societe des Nouveaux Etablissements Sizaire et Naudin, making Ballot-engined cars based on prewar designs. In spite of an attempt to re-enter racing at the International Voiturette Cup of 1921 the directors called in the liquidators later in the year.
The Sizaire brothers left the company in 1912 and founded Sizaire-Berwick.