B.N.C.

France, 1923 – 1931

Bollack, Netter et Cie, Levallois-Perret, Seine

Developed from the Jacques Muller cyclecar, the B.N.C. was one of the better-known French sporting voiturettes. The first BNC models had 4-cylinder sv engines by S.C.A.P. in the touring cars and Ruby in the sports versions. In 1925 more serious sports cars appeared, powered by 1100cc S.C.A.P., 1088cc Ruby DS or 1097cc Ruby K engines. The latter developed 60bhp and gave a maximum speed of 100mph. At the end of 1925 a vertically-mounted Cozette supercharger was catalogued on sports BNC’s – probably the first supercharged French cars to be sold to the public. The supercharged short-chassis model became known as the BNC Montlhéry, the unsupercharged sport-chassis as the BNC Monza, and the long-chassis as the BNC Miramas. For 1927 a sloping radiator was introduced, and was found on almost all sporting B.N.C.s henceforth, an exception being the 1½-litre Meadows-engined model of which one ran at Le Mans in 1929, and a few were sold to the public. Ruby-engined BNC’s were very successful in competitions, finishing 1st and 2nd in the 1927 Bol d’Or. In 1929 BNC took over the stock of Lombard parts and assembled a few cars which they sold under their own name, using their own BNC radiator.
Towards the end of the firm’s life BNC tried to enter the luxury market with the BNC Aigle, a large saloon with Delaunay-Belleville-built chassis and a choice of 4 or 5-litre sv straight-8 Continental engines. A.E.R. pneumatic suspension was tried on the BNC Aigle, but few of these cars were made. A coupé with 2-litre engine, sometimes called the BNC AER, was seen on the BNC stand at the 1930 Paris Salon, but did not go into production. BNC’s ceased to be made in 1931, but the Garage Siréjols assembled a few sports cars later, and the BNC marque was raced at Le Mans as late as 1935.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; GNG

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Plymouth

US, 1928 to date

Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

The 4-cylinder 21hp Plymouth car appeared in 1928 at a list price of $725 for a sedan. This Plymouth car replaced the earlier 4-cylinder Chryslers and represented a serious challenge for Ford and Chevrolet in their lowest price class. The Plymouth car had side valves, internal-expanding hydraulic brakes and ribbon-type radiator and gave the Plymouth car a close resemblance to the 1928 Chryslers and De Sotos, and Plymouth cars sold over 100.000 in its first year, even improving its sales position in the bleak economic climate of 1932. Plymouth cars adhered to four cylinders until 1933, when the Plymouth PD-series 6-cylinder was listed at less than $600. 1934 de luxe models of Plymouth cars had independent front suspension, but this was dropped after a year and did not reappear for some time on Plymouth cars. The standard engine in the later 1930 Plymouth cars had a capacity of 3.3-litres, rather smaller than that used in comparable Chevrolets and Fords: a small-bore 2.8-litre version Plymouth car was made for export up to 1939, but the name Plymouth was not usually found on Plymouth cars sold in England, which were nominally Chrysler Kew and Wimbledon sixes. After World War 2 evolution followed that of other Chrysler Corporation cars closely, the old-fashioned styling losing the Plymouth car division its long-held third place in American sales to Buick. Further, Plymouth cars retained the L-head six as its staple power unit right up to 1955, when Flight Sweep versions were introduced with over-square ohv V8 engines on accepted American lines in a variety of powers from 157 to 177bhp. The capacity of these Plymouth cars had 4.3-litres, while the six, now of 3.8-litres, remained available. These 1955 Plymouth cars were lower and longer than their predecessors and could be obtained with synchromesh, overdrive or automatic gearboxes.

The Plymouth Fury models of the ensuing decade represented a breakaway from the traditional Plymouth stolid family car, while the Plymouth Car Division was also responsible for Chrysler’s contribution to the compacts, the Plymouth Valiant launched for 1960. This Plymouth car had rather more European styling than its competitors, with a dummy spare-wheel moulding on the tail; interesting items of specification were the unitary construction of the Plymouth car, alternator ignition, and inclined in-line 2.8-litre ohv 6-cylinder engine. The influence of the Plymouth GT car on America resulted in the Plymouth Barracuda of 1965, a fastback coupé using the Valiant’s 8ft 10in wheelbase and a 4½-litre V8 power unit. Plymouth cars, like Ford and Chevrolet, was aiming at comprehensive coverage of the low and medium price market in 1966, with the compact Plymouth Valiant, the sports-compact Plymouth Barracuda, the medium-sized Plymouth Belvedere, the full-size Plymouth Fury, and the luxurious ‘VIP’ 4-door hardtop Plymouth car, offered only with a 5.2-litre V8 engine and selling for $2.930. An increasing emphasis on sporting Plymouth cars was detectable by 1968, when in addition to the established Barracuda there were two other sports coupés Plymouth car, the Plymouth GTX and the Plymouth Road Runner. All three Plymouth cars were available with 4-speed manual gearboxes and the 6.981cc 425bhp hemi-head V8 also used by Dodge. In 1970, when Valiant prices started at a low $2.172, there was also a Valiant sports coupé, the Plymouth Duster.

In 1971 Plymouth car company added a sub-compact to their Plymouth car range when they offered the 1½-litre Hillman Avenger as the Plymouth Cricket. The 1972 range of Plymouth cars embraced the Valiant on a 9ft wheelbase, the Barracudas and Satellites, and the full-size Furys with V8 engines and automatic transmission as standard. Engines in the Plymouth cars ranged from the Valiant’s 3.2-litre and 3.7-litre sixes up to the largest Chrysler unit, a V8 of 7.210cc. Electronic ignition was offered on the costliest Barracuda model. Casualties of new Federal regulations were the hemi-head engine and convertibles, and the same range Plymouth cars with minor improvements, among them manually-operated sun roofs, was offerd in 1973.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com