LAFITTE / FRANCE

 

LAFITTE / PARIS / FRANCE  ( 1923 - 1928 )

The “SA de Construction de Voiturettes Th. Lafitte” was a French manufacturer of cyclecars that only existed from 1923 to 1928. In the approximately 5 years of its existence, probably only less than 100 vehicles were built. The LAFITTE car had a kind of unique selling point. A 3-cylinder radial engine was installed. These types of engines were otherwise used in aircraft construction because they ran particularly quietly and reliably. 

In Germany, the company “Turbomotoren AG” in Stuttgart also installed radial engines in its cars. Ultimately, however, with even less success than in France. Perhaps this was too unconventional for the customers.

Size	c. 10 cm x 3.5 cm
Year	1923 -
Estimate

How can you tell from the outside that a radial motor has been installed? Quite simply because the crank handle is inserted almost centrally in the radiator grille to start the engine, as the crankshaft is not at the bottom but in the middle as you can see  here:

LAFITTE first series with blue emblem, seen in Paris in 2019

This period French article also describes the engine design as strange

In a later version, the vehicle was given an emblem without enamel. The name on the metal plate now in use has also been changed and can now be read: TH.LAFITTE:

Size	c. 10 cm x 3.5 cm
Year	c. 1925 - 1928
Estimate

TH. LAFITTE seen in a German collection

One of the very rare period advertisements. Surprisingly, the special engine design is not mentioned in the advertisement. Really strange.

Very few LAFITTE vehicles have survived. But there was a drawing of the LAFITTE emblem, which was made by the Swedish boy Gustaf Moeller back in the 1920s. Gustaf lived near the ferry port in Helsingborg / Sweden and drew the emblems of the waiting cars there. What a great hobby that still helps and delights us a hundred years later:

LAFITTE emblem of the first series

one of the rare period fotos

 

If you believe my friend Hans Lipp, who specialized in production numbers of vehicles made before 1945 less than  100 LAFITTE automobiles were made.

One of the rare survivors, seen in the Dutch Louwman museum

For more emblems see older posts or top right  (list of car makers).

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