A French mystery from 1949

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Michaelfj

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Tadpole
Tadpole
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Whilst looking for something totally unrelated I came across this:

“Advocate, 16/5/47

Imports of Motor Chassis

CANBERRA, Thursday, -
From September, 1946 until the end of March this year, 41,078 motor-car chassis were imported into Australia, and of these 19.078 came from the United Kingdom, the Minister for Customs (Senator Courtico) said to-day.
Only 6452 of the chassis came from tho United States, while imports from Canada were more than double this figure.
A further 14 chassis were imported from France.”

I thought the 14 French chassis was interesting.

The only “maybe” I can find is:

“The Argus 21/10/1947

A limited Number of
NEW 11.5-H.P.
PEUGEOT CONVERTIBLE COUPES
PEUGEOT CONVERTIBLE COUPES
And
4-DOOR SEDANS
4-DOOR SEDANS
Available for IMMEDIATE Delivery.
Available for IMMEDIATE Delivery.
Exceptional Riding Comfort, Speed,
and Economy.
All Models Fitted With Air-conditioning
Unit.
Inspection Invited.
All Particulars From
SPORTING CARS PTY. LTD.,
SPORTING CARS PTY. LTD.,
SPORTING CARS PTY. LTD.,
260 City Road.
SOUTH MELBOURNE.
_MX4751._”

the entry is how it appears in the newspaper.
the ads only seem to appear in October editions.

I am not saying the 14 Chassis are the above, but if anyone has any information on what they are, I would love to know it.
 
The Sporting Cars import was six 202's in 1947. A private 202 import was made in 1947 and perhaps 1946. They were not chassis but built up cars.
 
lots of articles in Trove with post war Froggies, they were keen to sell in our needy market - and GMH was still being born.... :)
trove.nla.gov.au

STERLING BLO[?] WANTS SHIPS - Could End Shortage - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 28 Jun 1948

Only shortage of shipping prevented non - dollar countries pouring in goods and ...
trove.nla.gov.au trove.nla.gov.au
an interesting little snippet...
trove.nla.gov.au

Results of specialization in the FRENCH CAR INDUSTRY - Le Courrier Australien (Sydney, NSW : 1892 - 2011) - 9 Sep 1949

NEXT month the 36th Automobile Salon will be opening its doors. Since 1898 ...
trove.nla.gov.au trove.nla.gov.au
Bob
 
one could spend all day in Trove....
trove.nla.gov.au

Modern Factory City Rises Gut Of Bomb Ruins - High Precision Plant For Peugeots - The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955) - 30 Sep 1949

COMPLETELY new post-war motor factory has been erected at Sochaux, France, employing 12,000 hands. The whole city and factory has been rebuilt on modern lines and hag emerged from war bombed ruins as one of the most important and up-to-date plants in France. This is where the Peugeot cars (of...
trove.nla.gov.au trove.nla.gov.au
even tractors....
trove.nla.gov.au

New French Tractor - The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955) - 30 Sep 1949

FROM the largest State-owned tractor factor on the Continent, the Sift TD4 diesel should find a ready place on Australian farms. A substantial portion of the factory's output, which totals about 12.000 tractors per year, has been ...
trove.nla.gov.au trove.nla.gov.au
Bob
 
I used to spend hours at the melbourne library pouring over their hard cop newspapers, slow and laborious.
I now use trove, (and a few other digitised services) much faster and far easier…..I don’t know why I spend so much longer researching now than I used to???!!.
 
A wool buyer had a private 202 import 1946/47. Commonwealth import stats listed seven Peugeot imports for 1947. Both Citroen and Renault had existing importers in Australia and got imports moving quickly. I would look to Citroens as most likely although the Slough imports would be listed as British. It was possible to circumvent the restrictions on imports of American vehicles by importing them from France.
 
Sporting Cars was a second hand car dealer in Sth Melbourne. They sold the occasional Peugeot before the war. They weren't a Peugeot dealer. The 202's would have been picked up by a trader in France, possibly a wool trader, at a good price and possibly a French export subsidy. Then looked for someone in Australia to sell them. The sort of deal that gave continental cars a bad name. Few if any spares, no serious service, metric wheels you couldn't get tyres for. People were desperate for cars and bought what was available. Permit for use still required in 1947. When a Peugeot representative turned up with 203's in Melbourne in 1948 he couldn't find anyone in Melbourne who would take them on.
In the 1950's there was a 202 at Portarlington. Perhaps a Sporting Cars survivor.
In 1947 the Citroen Light 15 and Renault Juvaquatre were listed as available and a shipment of Simca 8's arrived 1947/8. The 202 was released mid 1948.
 
tractors must have done a little better, I'd never heard of a 'Sift', but at least they found dealers for them in the capital cities.

Bob
 
It's an antiquated term, not relevant since the 1930's but still being used in the 1940's to report car imports.
 
In 1947 the only French car listed for sale in Australia was the Citroen Light 15. Dealers for NSW, Victoria and SA are given. Dealers for Renault in NSW and Victoria are listed but no car for sale. Listing did not mean supply for immediate delivery.
 
Great work, much appreciated Bob, Michael and Russell - hope this is ok and of use to someone;

Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955), Friday 30 September 1949, page 11

Modern Factory City Rises Out Of Bomb Ruins

High Precision Plant For Peugeots

COMPLETELY new post-war motor factory has been erected at Sochaux, France, employing 12,000 hands. The whole city and factory has been rebuilt on modern lines and has emerged from war bombed ruins as one of the most important and up-to-date plants in France. This is where the Peugeot cars (of which Harden and Johnston Ltd., Sydney, are distributors) are manufactured.
The French factory is entirely self-contained and in it is manufactured practically every mechanical part of the car, including the complete motor, gears, differential, chassis, castings, forgings, body, so that all parts or units are correctly proportioned in relation to each other.
For 50 years Peugeots have built up a vast fund of knowledge from the hundreds of thousands of vehicles produced since their first petrol car was made in 1891. Added to this is the advantage of the greatly increased output capacity of modern high precision labor-saving machinery and production methods adopted by their technicians after a world-wide study of advanced automobile design.
In the manufacture of the Peugeot engine — from the foundry to finished units — precision and accuracy are carefully maintained. Laboratory tests are constantly made for quality of molten steels and alloys to ensure correct standards, whilst drilling, operations are limited in tolerances as small as one-thousandth of a millimeter (sic). Each operation is microscopically tested and balanced before parts are finally fitted.
The completed motor is then taken to a testing room where it is driven by electric power up to 2500 revs, and then it is taken to a 'silence' room for testing under petrol power.
After mounting in the chassis another exacting test is made which includes the whole transmission and during normal usage strains and stresses would not equal the rigors (sic) of this test.
In the construction of the all-steel body processes exclusive to Peugeot have been developed. The most modern presses arc employed and all pressings are manufactured to exacting standards of accuracy to ensure correct alignment when set up in jigs for welding operations.
Every 14 minutes of the 24-hour day sees a well-constructed completed body come from this section, whilst output of completed vehicles of all types is 175 per day.
The '203' model is the work of brilliant French engineers who, by modern methods have obtained outstanding performance with exceptional operating economy. By reason of its attractive lines, the high degree of comfort, the carefully studied equipment, the ease with which it can be driven and its extraordinary high degree of safety, it is a car which will appeal to buyers the world over.
In town its flexible engine, its short turning radius, the ease of access to front and rear seats, by reason of its wide doors, make it a most likeable motor car to drive.
In the country, the car has striking personality which makes itself felt in the first few miles.
Silent in operation, comfortably sprung, holding to the road in a remarkably agreeable manner, having light and precise steering and powerful brakes, the '203' maintains all these qualities whatever the road surface. Further, these qualities are not paid for in high petrol consumption..
The steel body of the Peugeot 203 is windtunnel tested for correct streamline. Ample roominess together with a spacious luggage trunk make it ideal for long distance travelling, whilst the hinged rear seat squab provides a large area extending from trunk lid to front seat back for loading samples or for commercial work.
Design has been influenced by factors which give great petrol and tyre mileage, freedom from continual repair and simplicity in adjustment and parts replacement. Overdrive transmission saves petrol end oil, and as the engine runs slower at high speed a considerable saving in wear and tear is affected. Units such as steering, suspension, universals, brakes, all of which normally require servicing from time to time, are simple and efficient in design.
Accessibility has been a major consideration. The entire engine may be removed in a minimum of time. Batteries are located low down behind the hinged radiator grille, which may also be removed in a matter of seconds.
The ‘203’ is equipped with a remarkably efficient engine giving 33 h.p. per 1000 c.c. The fuel consumption (……) per h.p. at 4000 Rpm. is exceedingly low largely due to its patented hemispherical combustion chambers (central sparking plug). Its pick up is unusually rapid. Its overhead valves are of large diameter allowing the maximum volume of gases to be aspired. Its short piston stroke reduces inertia forces and the carefully balanced crankshaft carried in three rigid main bearings eliminates all vibration. Pressure cooling, a feature of many expensive cars, has proved more efficient by eliminating steam bubbles in cooling system, thus insuring …. efficient transfer of heat from cylinders and head.
Other engine specifications are:— Four cylinders (…) h.p. R.A.C. rating 13.9 h.p; bore 79 m/m, Stroke 73 m/m. Displacement 1200 c.c., patented camshaft driven by roller chain, overhead valves operated by rockers, detachable wet cylinder liners, thermostat in radiator.
Chassis frame and body are integral for strength and rigidity resulting in elimination of body rattles, squeaks and looseness. Lockheed hydraulic foot brake and mechanical handbrake (on rear wheels) are accepted as the safest combination of all types. Rack and pinion steering has positive action and a simple adjustment which give long life, trouble-free steering. Turning circle is 29ft. 6in., track .. in., wheelbase 103 in., overall length 14ft. 3in. overall width 5ft. 3in.; height under load 4 ft. l1in.; weight (unladen), 11 ( .. ) cwt.
Equipment includes self-cancelling trafficators; two glove boxes on dash board; pockets in front doors; twin electrical ‘self parking' windscreen wipers; two sun visors; bonnet lock inside car; spacious luggage accommodation in boot carrying spare wheel) tool kit compartments under front seats; Peugeot special side jacking system; adjustable cowl ventilator; plug for portable inspection lamp; 12 volt electrical equipment.
It has three speeds for normal driving and a fourth overdrive gear all silent with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and overdrive gears. The gear lever is mounted below steering wheel on the steering column. The exceptional road holding qualities are due to a harmonised combination of independently sprung front wheels, rear coil springs with a stabiliser bar, double acting hydraulic shock absorbers on all four wheels, a scientific distribution of the weight and a low centre of gravity. These different factors assure perfect stability under all conditions on bad roads
 
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Part of the sophisticated Harden & Johnston publicity program. They really had a good advertising agency. They produced pieces like this and sent them to country newspapers. Who often reproduced them in full. Far more sophisticated and effective than Canada Cycle who had an advertising agency that missed the mark.
Of course there were no war bombed ruins with little war damage to the factory buildings but postwar compensation claims encouraged a colourful description. They still stood in their pre war asbestos clad glory.
 
sophisticated for the time - like the car.
243199564_2681989878771694_2447399995982104115_n.jpeg
 
Peugeot in France ran a womens rally team. Very much a family affair. In Australia right from 1950 there were 203's entered by women successfully running in rallies and featured in CCM advertising.
 
I like the "quick as a flash off the mark" bit.
 
An FX Holden could accelerate to 50 mph and come to a complete stop before the 203 could get to 50 but compared to a Morris 8 it was fast. The euphemism road testers used for slow was "brisk". It was out accelerated by everything to 50 mph including the Morris Minor but it didn't feel slow and it cruised fast. It was hills that slowed it down but people expected that. A Holden would soar past a laden 203 on a long climb. My early model has a high second gear that sometimes means a stop and restart. The 203C was far better.
 
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