Turcat-Méry

France, 1898 – 1928

Automobiles Turcat-Méry SA, Marseilles

Léon Turcat and his brother-in-law Simon Méry carried out trials with examples of Panhards and Peugeots before starting work on their first experimental vehicle in 1896. This Turcat-Méry car had tiller steering, a front-mounted horizontal 4-cylinder engine with coil ignition, chain drive, and pneumatic tyres. A 2.6-litre vertical 4 powered their 1899 Model A Turcat-Méry car, which had a 5-speed gearbox and 2 reverse speeds, and this Turcat-Méry car had given way by 1901 to a more conventional twin on Panhard lines with only 3 forward speeds. At this juncture the parners in the Turcat-Méry car company, who were short of working capital, signed an agreement with De Dietrich, under which they would be responsible for the design of cars for that firm; in effect the car on which De Dietrichs of Turcat-Méry car type were based was a 16hp 4-cylinder with automatic inlet valves, side chain drive, and low-tension magneto ignition, capable of 50mph.

Subsequently parallel types were marketed by both firms, and in 1904 there were identical 12.8-litre De Dietrichs and Turcat-Méry cars in the French Gordon Bennett Eliminating Trials, Rougier’s example of the Turcat-Méry car make being selected to represent France at Homburg; the Turcat-Méry car finished 3rd in the actual race. The A.C.F. refused to countenance such duplication in 1905, in which year Turcat-Méry produced an interesting 6-wheeler Turcat-Méry car, with interconnected suspension and chain drive to the centre pair of wheels, which was subsequently taken up by Lorraine-Dietrich. Their first six-cylinder Turcat-Méry car of 1907 retained low-tension ignition and chain drive, but was of L-head type. Engine capacity of the Turcat-Méry car was 10.2-litres. The 1908 6.3-litre Type FM Turcat-Méry car was virtually a Lorraine-Dietrich, but this Turcat-Méry car gave way to 2.6-litre and 3.3-litre shaft-driven cars in 1909. A Turcat-Méry car won the first Monte Carlo Rally of all, in 1911. Conventional L-head monobloc 4-cylinder machines were made in the 1912-1914 period, with thermos-syphon cooling, magneto ignition, 4-speed gearboxes, and bevel drive. Capacities of the Turcat-Méry cars were 2.6-litres, 3.3-litres, 4.1-litres, 4.7-litres and 6.3-litres. Splash lubrication and quadrant change were found on the smallest Turcat-Méry car; the big Turcat-Méry cars had pressure lubrication and elegant V-radiators, and the 35hp Turcat-Méry car had the refinement of a bell as a warning against falling oil-pressure.

Post-war production Turcat-Méry cars was concentrated on the ‘15/25’, a long-stroke 3-litre of rather archaic design with fixed head, cone clutch and foot transmission brake, this Turcat-Méry car cost £1.050 as a chassis in England. V-radiators were now standard on Turcat-Méry cars. Finances were uncertain, and two reorganizations of the Turcat-Méry car company followed rapidly, the first in 1921 and the second in 1924. SV Turcat-Méry cars were still made in 1923, but there was also a very clean and advanced 2.8-litre ohc type Turcat-Méry car with detachable head, dual coil ignition, plate clutch, and uncoupled 4-wheel brakes. This Turcat-Méry car lasted only one season, for in 1924 Turcat-Méry came up with the UG-type, also an ohc model, but with fixed head, a capacity of 2.4-litres and proper coupled brakes, which survived until the end of Turcat-Méry car production.

From 1926 onward the Turcat-Méry car company had recourse to proprietary power units in a vain attempt to widen the Turcat-Méry car make’s appeal, starting with a 1.2-litre 7CV Turcat-Méry car using the ohv CIME-engine, and the SCAP-powered 1.6-litre Type VF, also ohv. In 1927 there were two small sv sixes using 1.2-litre and 1.7-litre CIME engines, and even a 2.3-litre push-rod straight-8 Turcat-Méry car using a SCAP unit. Operations ceased in 1928, and though a company under the control of Monnerot-Dumaine continued to list Turcat-Méry cars up to 1933, this firm was merely offering parts and service, and disposing of unsold stocks of Turcat-Méry cars.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS 

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