Th. Schneider

France, 1910 – 1931

Automobiles Th. Schneider, Besançon, Doubs; Boulogne-sur-Seine

Théophile Schneider had been one of the founders of Rochet-Schneider before he started making cars on his own account. These Th. Schneider cars were conventional enough, with their 4- or 6-cylinder sv engines and shaft drive. The only feature by Th. Schneider cars not shared by a majority of French cars was the dashboard radiators. In spite of this conservatism, Th. Schneider cars competed energetically in first-class racing, taking part in the Coupe de l’Auto race, the French Grand Prix, and the Belgian Grand Prix in 1912, and the French Grand Prix in the two succeeding years; but because of conservatism, perhaps, the Th. Schneider car was without success. In 1914, seven 4-cylinder models Th. Schneider cars, from 1.8- to 6.1-litres, were offered, as well as a 3.2-litre six Th. Schneider car.

The same policy was followed for Th. Schneider cars after World War 1: the manufacture of conventional, strong Th. Schneider cars with a high turn of speed, though now with frontal V-radiators. The basically pre-war 14CV Th. Schneider car was offered in 4- and 6-cylinder form from 1919 to 1923, and there was a light Th. Schneider car, the 1.170cc VL (voiture légère) from 1926. The most exciting and best-known Th. Schneider car was the 10CV Th. Schneider car, introduced in 1922, an sv 2-litre fast tourer in the best French tradition. By 1925 the Th. Schneider car had acquired ohv and front-wheel brakes, and survived until the end of car manufacture. The VL Th. Schneider car was also sold in ohv form by 1927. These Th. Schneider cars were the longest-lived and most popular models in a complex range. Production of Th. Schneider cars ceased in 1929, but Th. Schneider cars were still being sold off in 1931.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN 

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