Guest Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 (edited) I came across this interesting picture a couple days ago while researching some unrelated information. I captured the image with the plan of seeking out more info at a later date. Like many here, I find great interest in some of the early limousines but this one completely predates anything I've studied before. For me this car truly captures the essence of the "carriage trade". If one could step back in time for just a single evening.... While I've been able to find more images of A&L built cars, there does not seem to be too much in-depth information about the company itself. I believe they were in business, in Paris, from approximately the late 1890's to the late 1920's. They built many specialty bodies including a unique ambulance that was used for the war effort in 1914/15 as well as a Double Berline styled body built on a Hispano-Suiza chassis for the King of Spain. From what I've been able to glean, this particular limousine is built on a French Gregoire chassis with coach work by Alin & Liautard and is supposedly regarded as the first commercial limousine built. The influence of the horse drawn coach era is still undeniably present in the body design and the interior shows more like an elegant boudoir than an automobile. With the beveled glass windows and the ornate (kerosene?) lamps, this car must have made quite a statement traveling on the Champs-Elysees in the early days of the 20th century. Information suggests that Messrs Alin & Liautard built more than one of this very same design but the exact number is lost to the sands of time. Perhaps just a few? Today there remains an existing A&L Double Berline but I don't know if any examples of this fine triple compartment car on the Gregoire chassis still exist, but I'd really love to see one in person if it did. I have to wonder, would they call this body style a Triple Berline? If anyone here can share more info on the Alin-Liautard Company I would be grateful. Cheers, Greg Edited May 6, 2022 by GregLaR (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 Wow How incredibly luxurious! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 (edited) Yep, the Gregoire triple 'Berline de Voyage' made this list last month: At true self-propelled stagecoach. Craig Edited May 6, 2022 by 8E45E (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 "Ostentatious" comes to mind! Wonder how much this car weighed, rolling along on bicycle type wire wheels? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 The headquarters was at 15 rue de Becon, Courbevoie (Paris suburb), if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 There is a possibility that they are mentioned in OMNIA magazine. That was a French ( and French language) monthly car magazine that was quite thorough about car reports, photos etc. It was in existence from 1920 thru the early 1930s. I have nearly a complete run but not the time to look at every issue/page for any mention - there was no index for it as far as I know so to look something up takes many days and hours. Just wanted to give you a heads up if you can locate some issues , but again not easy to do here in the USA. As far as I am aware there is no full run in any of the automotive libraries with access to the public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 4 hours ago, rocketraider said: "Ostentatious" comes to mind! Wonder how much this car weighed, rolling along on bicycle type wire wheels? Yes to ostentatious. My first thought was bordello-like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 1913 Hispano-Suiza Type Alfonso XIII https://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/extremely-rare-1913-hispano-suiza-type-alfonso-xiii-headed-for-a/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 From the Coachbuild Forum... https://www.coachbuild.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=304&t=2087&start=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E. Guitar Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 (edited) A few bits and pieces. Edited May 7, 2022 by Andrew46Coupe (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E. Guitar Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 1911 Grégoire "sous-marin". It's interesting to read they had Henri Coandă carry out wind tunnel tests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Coandă Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E. Guitar Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Here is a Gregoire at the Louwmann Museum in The Netherlands. They have quite a few unusual closed bodied cars in their collection. https://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/en/car/gregoire-12-14-hp-coupe-de-voyage/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Hmmm? I have to say, the "Boat Body" and the 2 seater turret topped cars are both supremely hideous.... almost to the point of fascination. Sort of like that dead cow you see in a field on a hot summer day, bloated to 3 times it's normal size. You just can't stop staring at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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