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André Py

André Py 3.5 CV Voiturette
André Py 3.5 CV Voiturette side view and top view (1899)

André Py (fl. 1898–1900) was a French automobile designer and early manufacturer. He is known for designing a three-wheeled motorized voiturette in 1899, which was produced by the Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest in Angoulême, France.[1][2] Py's lightweight car featured an unusual configuration with front-wheel drive and a rear-wheel steering system, an innovative but short-lived design.[3]

Early life

By the late 1890s, Py was active in the Charente region of southwestern France. He live in the city of Angoulême.[4]

Cycling career

In the 1890s, France's vibrant cycling culture and industry provided the foundation for early automobile experimentation. By 1898, he had designed a small motor vehicle inspired by motorized tricycles and bicycle technology. That year, he prepared a prototype of a three-wheeled "voiturette" (a light horseless carriage) for public display. In December 1898, at the inaugural Paris Motor Show held at the Jardin des Tuileries, Py exhibited his front-wheel-drive motor tricycle to advertise his design.[5] The vehicle attracted interest due to its unconventional layout, which was reminiscent of Léon Bollée’s famous three-wheeler but with key differences.[2]

Following this debut, Py partnered with local investors to manufacture the car. He helped found the Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest, based in Angoulême, in early 1899 to produce his vehicle commercially. Py assumed the role of designer and technical director. Production of the car - marketed simply as the "André Py" voiturette - began in 1899.[1]

Milestones

  • 1898 – Exhibited a prototype front-wheel-drive motor tricycle at the Paris Automobile Salon, one of the earliest front-wheel-drive cars shown to the public.[5]
  • 1899 – Established the Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest in Angoulême and launched the André Py 3½ CV Voiturette for sale. The vehicle featured a single-cylinder 3.5 horsepower engine, three-speed transmission, and back-to-back seating for two passengers.[3] It could reach approximately 30 km/h (19 mph) in top gear and was priced at 3,000 francs in 1899.[6]
  • 1900 – Production ceased after roughly two years. The company built only a small number of cars before closing in 1900.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The Py Motor-Voiturette", The Motor Car Journal (London), 1899, Vol. 1, p. 402 – "…has lately been put on the market in France by the Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest, of which M. André Py, the designer of the vehicle, is the manager."
  2. ^ a b Gardner D. Hiscox, Horseless Vehicles, Automobiles and Motor Cycles (New York: The Norman W. Henley Publishing Co., 1900), p. 299 – "…resemble the well-known Bollée, but on closer inspection differ considerably. A three-wheeled vehicle of this type has lately been put on the market in France by the Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest, of which M. André Py, the designer of the vehicle, is the manager."
  3. ^ a b "La Voiture à 2 roues", Le Chauffeur (Paris), 11 août 1899, pp. 8–9 (in French). Description of the André Py 3½ CV voiturette, noting its front-wheel drive and single rear steering wheel
  4. ^ "Compagnie des Automobiles du Sud-Ouest", Le Petit Journal (Paris), 20 janvier 1900, p. 2 (in French) – announcement of the company's formation in Angoulême.
  5. ^ a b Jacques Ickx, Le premier Salon de l’automobile (1898) (Brussels: Éditions du Palmier, 1998), pp. 54–55 (in French) – mentions André Py’s exhibit at the 1898 Paris Salon de l'automobile.
  6. ^ "Voiturette Py", Le Chauffeur (Paris), 11 février 1900, p. 3 (in French) – company advertisement listing specifications: 3.5 CV engine, 3 speeds (8, 18, 30 km/h) and price 3,000 francs.

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