Hurtu

France, 1896 – 1930

Compagnie des Autos et Cycles Hurtu, Albert, Somme; Neuilly, Seine; Rueil, Seine-et-Oise

Like Opel in Germany, Hurtu cars progressed from sewing-machines through bicycles to cars. Hurtu made a few hundred Bollée voiturettes for that concern, then went into Hurtu car manufacture on their own account. Like most other pioneer motor manufacturers, Hurtu cars began as copies of established machines, in this case the belt-driven single-cylinder Benz, and incorporating improvements. Equally predictably, when this Hurtu car was superseded in 1900 by a more modern car, the latter was a Hurtu voiturette with a single-cylinder 3½hp De Dion engine and shaft drive. Single-, 2-, and 4-cylinder Aster engines were also fitted on Hurtu cars. Indeed, the Hurtu car firm never departed very far from standard practice, for even the dashboard radiator used on smaller models from 1907 to 1920 was a common sight. Hurtu cars continued to specialize in light cars until 1914, their most popular offering being a 10hp Hurtu car of modern design with a monobloc 4-cylinder engine and unit construction of engine and gearbox, though an 8hp single was made as late as 1912. In 1922, however, a Hurtu touring car with a 2-litre push-rod overhead valve engine and front-wheel brakes was introduced, and a good-looking sports alternative appeared two years later. However, the market for the classic French fast tourer declined towards the end of the 1920s, and Hurtu had no popular, cheap small Hurtu car now to cater for the biggest market. Hurtu car production ceased in 1930.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN

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