15 replies to this topic

[RAP]

The La Pintade was a one-off French racing car driven by Venot in the 1930s in races such as the Bol d'Or and AGACI Meetings at Montlhery. 

 

The Formula One Register is adding the pre-war Bol d'Or races to its files and we would like to know what engine the 1100cc La Pintade had and whether M.Venot's first name can be confirmed as Fernand. I have a feeling that after WW2 it was called something else but I can't find any source for this vague recollection.

 

We have the same questions for the single-seater Chevallier.

 

Any help much appreciated.

Richard Page

[Vitesse2]

But presumably re-engined in its later guise as the Théo Martin? This 1937 Bol d'Or entry list says it was an 1100.

 

http://www.amilcar-o...ds/page0008.pdf

[RAP]

Thanks for the replies. As Vitesse says, pre-war the car was an 1100. The earliest entry I've seen is 1933 and apparently Simca was founded in 1935. 

[Barttore]

Hello Richard,

 

There is a portrait of "La Pintade" in the beautyful book "Die Schnellen Zwanzigerjahre" by Brägger, Joos, Reinhard & Heer. Pages 48-50.

It states that this car, when built originally, was a 2-seater powered by a Ruby engine + Zoller supercharger. Resulting in a 3rd overall in the 1933 Bol d'or.

 

After a few years it was rebuilt into a monoposto with hydraulic brakes and a few years later it finished 4th in this configuration in the French GP.

in 1938 the Bol d'Or it took 2nd position after 6 hours of racing but few minutes later dropped out of the race.
The name Fernand Venot is also mentioned in this portrait. The name La Pintade means the Guinea hen.

 

In 1945 it was bought by Theo Martin and only then the Simca Deho motor is mentioned. It finished 17th in the 24hr of Le Mans in 1949.

In 1952 he tried the GP at Caen, but remained very unsuccesful, being lapped 21 times.

The Simca engine is apparently still in the car.

 

Hope this helps.

Bart

 

Edited by Barttore, 14 November 2016 - 17:52.

[Ralf Pickel]

Richard - I do have the contact details of the owner. Will send you mail address plus name via PM.

 

Ralf

 

PS tried to send a PM - but got the message you cannot receive any more at the moment - maybe your mailbox is filled up ?

 

Try to send me a PM - should work and you can give me your mail address.

Edited by Ralf Pickel, 14 November 2016 - 17:46.

[RAP]

Thanks Barrtore. Ruby certainly sounds very logical.

Ralf thank also - I have PM you.

The car's Bol d'Or record seems to be

1933 3rd

1934 dnf

1935 dnf

1936 dnf

1937 dnf

1938 14th but probably not still running

Cheers Richard

[robert dick]

Was it a Zoller supercharger or a "Zoller type" supercharger? A Zoller would be unusual.
A Cozette was the usual accessory for a Ruby engine, or for all the other French cyclecar engines supplied by SCAP, CIME or Chapuis-Dornier.
The Cozette as well as the Zoller were eccentric drum/vane type superchargers.

Any connection with the Venot La Ponette cyclecar?
(the Société Anonyme des Automobiles La Ponette (located at 12 Passage Ruelle, Paris 18ème - near the Gare du Nord) went bankrupt in June 1924)
 

[RAP]

The earliest record of Venot I have is 1932 in a Sandford cyclecar so I would have thought it unlikely to be connected to La Ponette.

[RAP]

I can confirm that it is FERNAND Venot from the entry list Montlhery 19.9.37

Richard
www.formulaoneregister.com

[Barttore]

Was it a Zoller supercharger or a "Zoller type" supercharger? A Zoller would be unusual.

I checked the book again, it clearly states Zoller, and I am pretty sure the authors were in contact with the owner, so consider this as reliable information.

[RAP]

I have had some very helpful information from the current owner. Originally built in 1933 as a low-slung 2-seater in the style of the Lombard, it had a Ruby K Zoller supercharged engine and a rear end from a 1500 Bugatti.  In 1935 it was rebodied as a monoposto. Post-war it was fitted with a Simca engine and raced a few times by Theo Martin but no longer called La Pintade. 

RAP

[robert dick]

Bol d'Or, Saint-Germain, 5 June 1933

Venot/La Pintade

(Bibliothèque Nationale Paris, collection Rol):

 

https://gallica.bnf....648g/f1.highres

 

https://gallica.bnf....639h/f1.highres

 

[john aston]

Why was it called pintade ? Guinea fowl seems a curious choice of name for a car 

[Ralf Pickel]

Why was it called pintade ? Guinea fowl seems a curious choice of name for a car 

Probably because of the size. It´s really tiny - like an A7 single seater, maybe even a bit less.

[Doug Nye]

When it comes to the French names for small, poor, defenceless, edible, dickey birds I suppose 'Pintard' sounds better than 'Caille' - quail.

 

DCN

[john aston]

I 'd rather fancy a Panhard Ortolan though ...