Aerocarene

The Aérocarène 700 was a small automobile developed in France and first exhibited at the Paris Motor Show at the end of October 1947.^[1]

The vehicle was developed during the previous year by two engineers called Desbenoît and Bodu. It was a streamlined three-wheeled coupé which had no doors. The top slid back to grant access to the passenger compartment. Spats enclosed the front wheels, on top of which the headlights were mounted. The headlights and their spats were turned with the steering of the wheels.

It had a 4CV engine of 684 cc, for which 23 hp was claimed. In the Renault itself the engine size and power had recently been increased, but the Aérocarène 700 weighed less than 300 kg.^[1] The Aérocarène's maximum speed was 82 mph (132 km/h) or 75 mph (120 km/h). Sources differ.

The vehicle's appearance at the Paris Motor Show was supported by the production of a sales brochure, but the project backers had failed to win round the government representatives. Under the dirigiste governments that ruled in France in the years directly following the Vichy experience automakers needed the authorisation of government to build cars. The absence of such authorisation made it impossible to purchase materials, and accordingly the Aérocarène project had to be abandoned.^[1]

References

• Georgano, G.N., "Aerocarene", in G.N. Georgano, ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885-1968 (New York: E.P. Dutton and Co., 1974), pp.29.