Berliet

The French make Berliet became famous largely as a result of its lorries, but this make also originally started by producing cars.  In 1895, Marius Berliet built his first motorcar.  It was powered by a one-cylinder engine, which was placed above the rear axle.  Production got off the ground very slowly .  After four years, Berliet had sold only six cars.  In co-operation with constructor Pierre Desgouttes a model fitted with a four-cylinder engine delivering 12 bhp also came about that same year.  In France Berliet sold almost 100 cars that year.  The four cylinder engine was so good that it was also built under licence in England, at Sunbeam.   In 1906, the American ALCO company (American Locomotive Company) also showed an interest in Berliet-engines.  The companies entered into an agreement that brought in $500,000 for Berliet.  But perhaps even more important was the fact that the company was also commissioned to design a locomotive.  Within a short period of time, the company became France's biggest manufacturer in this field.

During World War I, the factory only built lorries for the army.  In 1919, the company started to build cars again.  In 1936 the Dauphine was launched, a car with a 2.0 litre engine, aerodynamic bodywork, and independent front suspension.  Demand for this model was limited.  In 1939, the company's board decided to focus exclusively on the production of lorries.  In 1967, the company was taken over by Citroen.