Tracta

France, 1926 – 1934

SA des Automobiles Tracta, Asnières, Seine

Towards the end of the 1920s, several French manufacturers took up front-wheel drive, but only one made a success of it in this period. J.A. Grégoire’s Tracta cars was unusual, too, in that Tracta racing cars preceded production Tracta cars. Indeed, the Tracta car was always primarily a sporting make.

First made in 1926, and raced during 1927, the Tracta car was offered to the public at the Paris Saloon of the latter year. An ohv 4-cylinder engine of 1.100cc drove the front wheels of the Tracta car, with the assistance, if required, of a Cozette supercharger. The 4-speed gearbox of the Tracta car was in front of the engine. Sliding-pillar independent front suspension was used, with inverted quarter-elliptics at the rear of the Tracta car. The front wheels were pronouncedly crab-tracked, and the front brakes of the Tracta car were inboard.

These compact, low-built sports Tracta cars were entered consistently in the Le Mans 24 Hours Race, finishing in 1927, and the Tracta car took second place in their class in 1928 and the Tracta car won it in the following two years. By 1929, there were two models Tracta car: a two-seater Tracta car that came just within the 1½-litre racing class, and a 1.600cc four-seater saloon Tracta car. They were capable of 80mph and nearly 70mph respectively. The latter model Tracta car was continued until 1934, accompanied by two 6-cylinder types, with 2.7-litre Continental sv and 3-litre Hotchkiss ohv engines.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN  

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