Georges Irat

French automobile

The Georges Irat was a French automobile manufactured by engine builder Georges Irat from 1921 to 1953.

The company's first product was an ohv 1990cc four cylinder car designed by Maurice Gaultier who had been with Delage. This was joined in 1926 by a 2985 cc six cylinder. The company turned to producing Lycoming powered models in 1929, both sixes and eights; this was also the year in which they moved from Chatou to Neuilly. A small car with 1086 cc four cylinder engine and designed by George's son Michel, was added to the range in 1929 but sales of this and the large cars were poor resulting in a financial crisis. The manufacturer was partially taken over by Godefroy et Levecque, makers of the Ruby engine, in 1934, consequently moving to that company's works in Levallois. Here they made two front wheel drive sporting roadsters, one with an 1100 cc Ruby and the other with a six cylinder 2450 cc Lycoming engine. The smaller car sold well but there were few takers for the six. In 1938 a new sports car with a 1911 cc engine produced by Citroën with independent suspension using rubber springing on all wheels was announced but war broke out after about 200 had been made.

After the outbreak of war, Georges Irat was among the first auto makers to focus on electric cars, there being diminishing quantities of oil based motor fuel available for civilian use, especially after the German invasion in May/June 1940. An all new electric car was designed during Summer 1940 and developed rapidly in order to be ready for public launch at the Lyon Fair during the autumn of 1941. Under the bonnet/hood the engine had now been replaced by a 1996 cc 4 cylinder in line unit featuring a twin overhead camshaft and driving, now, the rear wheels via a more conventional transmission. However, the car never entered production even though it re appeared at the 1949 show. In 1950 Georges Irat announced the VdB or "Voiture du Bled" made by a new company, Société Chérifienne George Irat in Casablanca, Morocco. This was a jeep like three seat vehicle powered by a rear mounted Panhard engine. Only a few were made up to 1953. The engine was originally of 610 cc and , which meant a top speed of It could climb a 40% grade and ford a deep stream. The vehicle later received updated bodywork, and the car displayed at the 1953 Paris Show had a 745 cc version of the Panhard engine, producing With and in reserve, the effective range of the VdB was It was rear wheel drive only, but had a locking differential and a low gear transfer case for its three speed gearbox.