Coachbuilders - France: books - history and models

Figoni on Delahaye

This book highlights the artistic mastery of Joseph Figoni and his elegant designs for Delahaye automobiles. It explores his creative process through sketches, models, and rare surviving artifacts.

Modern photographs, including those by Michael Furman, capture the timeless beauty of Figoni's restored masterpieces. The Figoni Archive, featuring notebooks, vintage photos, and historical documents, provides valuable insights into these legendary cars.

The book presents over fifty Delahayes with Figoni's signature coachwork, offering detailed descriptions of each. An appendix, "Joseph Figoni's Designs and Drawings", includes many previously unpublished sketches.

Claude Figoni shares the story of his father's journey from modest beginnings to becoming one of France's leading coachbuilders. Richard Adatto offers personal reflections on his experiences with collectors and the restoration community.

Product details

Marcel Pourtout: Carrossier

Pourtout is a name often mentioned as one of the greats of French coachbuilding. It was the company behind the rakish Darl'mat Peugeots of the 1930s and the famous 'Embiricos' Bentley. From modest beginnings, founder Marcel Pourtout - latterly working with designer Georges Paulin - created a respected business that bodied some of the world's finest and most interesting chassis.

When bespoke coachwork became a thing of the past, Carrosserie Pourtout was one of the few companies to survive. It moved on to fresh areas of activity. Quick on its feet, it thrived in a newly dynamised post-war France, whilst remaining a family business under the direction of Marcel Pourtout's second son Claude.

Extravagant publicity vehicles, notably for the 'Tour de France' cycle race, replaced special-bodied Hispano-Suizas and Delahayes. Then Carrosserie Pourtout became involved with ALM, for whom it created a cab body that redefined the image of the company's rugged trucks, these becoming a staple of armed forces around the world.
Finally it became France's leading converter of Peugeot light vans and a sub-contractor for the aircraft and oil-prospecting industries.

Written by award-winning author Jon Pressnell, this is the first history of Carrosserie Pourtout and has been compiled with the full and generous support of the Pourtout family.
Using surviving documentation from the archives held by Kévin Pourtout, it tells the complete story of this enterprising small business, from its inception in 1925 to its demise in 1994.

Product details

Les carrosseries Henri Chapron

Henri Chapron set up his body shop in the west of Paris in 1919. His specialization as a saddler quickly brought him a regular clientele who appreciated the quality of his work. A solid reputation for classicism and serious work opened the doors to the major French prestige brands such as Delahaye and Delage in 1930. He became their official supplier for convertible and coach bodies.

Set up at the now historic address of 114-116 avenue A. Briand in Levallois-Perret, Henri Chapron designed the most elegant and luxurious French and European cars: Delahaye 235, the latest Talbot-Lago and some magnificent Salmsons.
In 1956, the legendary Citroën DS sealed Henri Chapron's destiny. Having become the official coachbuilder of the Presidency of the Republic, he designed the limousines of Presidents Coty, de Gaulle, Pompidou, and Giscard d'Estaing. Even today, Henri Chapron's name shines on the two convertible SMs of the Elysée.

The book tells the story of Henri Chapron, interspersed with memories and interviews with people who knew him, and that of a century of coachbuilding, from 1886 to 1986.

Product details

Encyclopédie de la carrosserie française

Coachbuilders, manufacturers, schools, stylists, designers... the 500 players in creation. As announced in the foreword to the book "La carrosserie française - du style au design", a second volume was to follow, focusing on inventorying, from A to Z, all the players who have been involved in the evolution of bodywork, from its origins to today.

The book is divided into two parts, the first devoted to companies, the second to personalities. Among the 350 companies presented, we will find the vast majority of coachbuilders who have been or are still active in France. Also grouped are the manufacturers who have been involved in the evolution of bodywork, on an aesthetic or technical level.
For each brand, we discover how the style or design studios have evolved over the years. The main design schools and suppliers to the automobile industry are also cited. Among the 150 personalities listed, we will discover the women and men who have contributed to the technological or aesthetic evolution of bodywork: stylists, designers and engineers.

Product details

Letourneur & Marchand Autobineau, maîtres carrossiers français (Collection Prestige)

The Letourneur & Marchand body shop is an excellent example of industrial longevity and adaptation. From 1905 to 1998, it offers a century of know-how and talent. Letourneur & Marchand will be the first to body petrol-powered cars, and almost the last, apart from Chapron, Pichon-Parat and Heuliez, to exhibit at the Motor Show.

The quality of their creations and the elegance of their style were and remain recognized. "Bon chic, bon genre" creations that delight international elegance competitions and prestigious auctions. The Letourneur & Marchand body shop is a symbol of French artisan automobile know-how of the 20th century.

Summary:

Part 1 - History of the Letourneur & Marchand bodywork
1. From one world to another
2. Two young apprentices at the beginning of the 20th century
3. The rise of a great coachbuilder
4. The war and the Occupation
5. The last lights before the end
6. Diversification then reconversion
7. Autobineau
Part 2 - Production of the Letourneur & Marchand and Autobineau bodies

Product details