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Darracq Motor Engineering Company

{{Short description|British vehicle importer and wholesaler}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Darracq Motor Engineering Company Limited

| logo =

| type =

| industry = Automotive

| fate = Liquidated and dissolved after 1935

| predecessor =

| successor =

| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1916|05|01}} in London, UK

| founders = A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited

| defunct =

| hq_location_city = London

| hq_location_country = United Kingdom

| areas_served = United Kingdom and British Empire except Canada

| key_people =

| products = Motor bodies, motor importer

| owners = A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent = A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited

| website =

}}

Darracq Motor Engineering Company Limited was a London importer, retailer and wholesaler of French-made Darracq and Talbot automobiles, a coachbuilder making regular production runs of bodies for S T D group products and a property holding company on behalf of its parent S T D Motors Limited.

In 1935 its assets were sold following the financial collapse of S T D Motors in 1934. The coachbuilding business was bought by the Rootes brothers and lost its separate identity.

Purpose

In 1916 the board of A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited (later S T D Motors) elected to rearrange ownership of its Suresnes, Paris plant and the Darracq distribution system in London. Darracq Motor Engineering was incorporatedCompany Matters, Flight magazine, 23 November 1916New Companies: Darracq Motor Engineering Company Limited. Reg. Office: Townmead Works, Townmead Road, Fulham, London S.W.; manufacturers of automobiles, aeroplanes, motor cars, motor and other cycles, mechanical and general engineers, etc. Private Company
Mechanical Power, vol 11, 1916. page 11, 6 April 1916 to take over their assets located in Britain: 150 Bond Street showrooms, warehouses, service garages etc.,The Motor Transport Year Book and Directory Electrical Press, London, 1918 including their Fulham, London Works, at that time making munitions, aircraft and components such as propellers and under the wartime control of the Royal Aircraft Factory.

After incorporation Darracq Motor Engineering Company added to its British assets ownership of the Darracq land in France on which their Suresnes plant was situated. Darracq Motor Engineering then leased it to a new French company, Société Anonyme Darracq, incorporated to hold all the other French assets formerly held directly by A Darracq and Company (1905) Limited.

A Darracq and Company (1905) (soon to be renamed S T D Motors) was then reduced to a non-trading company holding ownership of the various French and British businesses.

Activities

File:Talbot AX65 6-light saloon 1934 (9039515709).jpg AX65, body by Darracq]]

After the 1918 Armistice the Fulham Works once again made motor car bodies for Darracqs and continued to assemble French-sourced components.

After 1920 offices and showrooms in The Vale, Acton at the intersection with Warple Way were shared with W & G Du Cros another group member.

In the expanded combine Darracq Motor Engineering also made bodies for Sunbeam of Wolverhampton and Talbot London.S.T.D. Motors, Limited. (Incorporated under the Companies Acts, 1862 to 1900.) The Times, Monday, 10 Mar 1924; pg. 20; Issue 43596 In spite of the manufacturer's name change Darracq Motor Engineering continued to import and sell SA Talbot cars sent from France for sale in Britain and brand them Darracq.Anthony Blight, Georges Roesch and the Invincible Talbot Grenville, London 1970

Rootes

File:1938 Darracq-Talbot Lago (4610080413).jpg]]

The Rootes brothers folded the coachbuilding portion of this business into Clément-Talbot's In January 1935 and it lost its separate identity.S.T.D. Subsidiaries. The Times, Tuesday, 12 Feb 1935; pg. 21; Issue 46986S.T.D. Motors Report. The Times, Thursday, 21 Feb 1935; pg. 19; Issue 46994

New cars remained available (and service and spares) from D.A.R.A. Co Limited at 1a Kilburn High Road, Maida Vale NW6. Rebadging of SA Talbot cars sent from Suresnes to Britain continued after the dissolution of Darracq Motor Engineering because Clément-Talbot's British business remained active. In 1938 Clément-Talbot's name was changed to Sunbeam-Talbot. After twenty years its products dropped Talbot from their badges in 1954.

{{clear}}

= Cars manufactured in Suresnes, Paris (1919–1938) =

;at first badged Talbot Darracq and later Darracq for sale in Britain

File:1920 Talbot-Darracq V20 (29420745433).jpg

:Information assembled from The Autocar Buyer's Guide and published in Appendix V, Ian Nickols and Kent Karslake, Motoring Entente, Cassell, London 1956

File:Darracq 1924 2.jpg

File:Darracq at Woburn.JPG

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 75%; text-align: center;"
scope="col" | years

! scope="col" | name

(French)

! scope="col" | disp

! scope="col" | cyl's

! scope="col" | bore /

stroke

! scope="col" | RAC

tax hp

! scope="col" | bhp

! scope="col" | gear

box

! scope="col" | wheelbase

! scope="col" | track

1920-1921

! scope="row" | 20 (A)

| 4594

| V8

| 75 x 130

| 27.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|138|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1920, 1922

! scope="row" | 16 (V14)

| 2938

| 4

| 85 x 130

| 17.9

| —

|4

|{{convert|129|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|51|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1921

! scope="row" | 14

| 2297

| 4

| 75 x 130

| 14

| —

| 4

| {{convert|129|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|51|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1922

! scope="row" | 8

| 970

| 4

| 57 x 95

| 8

| —

| 3

| {{convert|96|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|47|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1922

! scope="row" | 12

| 1460

| 4

| 65 x 110

| 10.5

| —

| 3

| {{convert|118|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|49|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1922

! scope="row" | 27.9 (A)

| 4594

| V8

| 75 x 130

| 27.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|138|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1923

! scope="row" | 8/18

| 970

| 4

| 57 x 95

| 8

| —

| 3

| {{convert|97|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|47|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1923

! scope="row" | 12/32 (DC)

| 1598

| 4

| 68 x 110

| 11.5

| —

| 3

| {{convert|118|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|49|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1923

! scope="row" | 18/36

| 2938

| 4

| 85 x 130

| 17.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|129|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|51|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1923

! scope="row" | 20/40

| 3230

| 4

| 89 x 130

| 19.6

| —

| 4

| {{convert|129|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|51|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1923

! scope="row" | 28/70

| 4594

| V8

| 75 x 130

| 27.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|138|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1924

! scope="row" | 15/40 (DS)

| 2121

| 4

| 75 x 120

| 14

| —

| 3

| {{convert|126|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1924-1926

! scope="row" | 12/32 (DC)

| 1598

| 4

| 68 x 110

| 11.5

| —

| 3

| {{convert|118|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1926-1927

! scope="row" | 15/40

| 2294

| 4

| 78 x 120

| 15.9

| —

| 3

| {{convert|118|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1926-1927

! scope="row" | 17/75

| 2540

| 6

| 70 x110

| 18.2

| —

| 3 / 4

| {{convert|132|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1927–1928

! scope="row" | 12/40

| 1669

| 4

| 69.5 x 110

| 12

| —

| 4

| {{convert|123|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|53|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1927–1928

! scope="row" | 20/98

| 2916

| 6

| 75 x 110

| 20.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|131|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1928

! scope="row" | 16 (M67)

| 1999

| 4

| 67 x 94.5

| 16.7

| —

|4

|{{convert|127|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|54|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1929-1930

! scope="row" | 16 (M67)

| 1999

| 4

| 67 x 94.5

| 16.7

| —

|4

|{{convert|127|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1929-1930

! scope="row" | 20 (K74)

| 2440

| 6

| 74 x 94.5

| 20.4

| —

| 4

| {{convert|127|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1929-1930

! scope="row" | 20 (T)

| 2916

| 6

| 75 x 110

| 20.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|136.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1930

! scope="row" | 30

| 3823

| St8

| 78 x 100

| 30.2

| —

| 4

| {{convert|143|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1931

! scope="row" | 20.9

| 2504

| 6

| 75 x 94.5

| 20.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|124|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1931

! scope="row" | 22.6

| 2866

| 6

| 78 x 100

| 22.6

| —

| 4

| {{convert|134|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1931–1933

! scope="row" | 30.1

| 3823

| St8

| 78 x 100

| 30.2

| —

| 4

| {{convert|139|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1932

! scope="row" | 16 (M67)

| 1999

| 4

| 67 x 94.5

| 16.7

| —

|4

|{{convert|126|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1932

! scope="row" | 20

| 2504

| 6

| 75 x 94.5

| 20.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|126|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1932

! scope="row" | 22

| 2866

| 6

| 78 x 100

| 22.6

| —

| 4

| {{convert|126|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1932-1933

! scope="row" | 30

| 3823

| St8

| 78 x 100

| 30.2

| —

| 4

| {{convert|143|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1933

! scope="row" | 16 (M67)

| 1999

| 4

| 67 x 94.5

| 16.7

| —

|4

|{{convert|117|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1933-1934

! scope="row" | 20

| 2504

| 6

| 75 x 94.5

| 20.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|117|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1934

! scope="row" | 16 (L67)

| 1999

| 4

| 67 x 94.5

| 16.7

| —

|4

|{{convert|117|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1934

! scope="row" | 28

| 3563

| 8

| 75 x 100

| 27.9

| —

| 4

| {{convert|124|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} /

{{convert|138|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|{{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

1936–1936

! scope="row" | 16.7

| 1999

| 6

| 67 x 94.5

| 16.7

| —

| 4

| {{convert|127|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|55|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20160916124343/http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TALBOT-DARRACQ-1921-MODELS-Car-Brochure-1921-/151607756843?hash=item234c86c82b%3Ag%3AjS8AAOSwstxU3lNt Talbot-Darracq 1921 models (from) Darracq Motor Engineering]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20161117041759/http://www.ebay.fr/itm/DARRACQ-CAR-RANGE-Sales-Brochure-c1938-SALOON-Limousine-CABRIOLET-Lago-Special-/151792058813?hash=item23578301bd%3Ag%3Ak0YAAOSw3ydVzjT7 1938 Darracq and Lago brochure issued by D.A.R.A. Co]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20161117042722/http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Darracq-2-3-4-litre-Lago-Original-UK-Catalogue-1939-/230669409378?hash=item35b4f7dc62%3Am%3AmylkqRKfUOwPPm924--k-CQ 1939 Darracq and Lago brochure issued by D.A.R.A. Co]

Category:S T D Motors

Darracq

Category:Vehicle manufacture in London

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1905

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1935

Category:1905 establishments in England

Category:1935 disestablishments in England

Category:Defunct companies based in London