Courageux motors was founded in 1948 by Francois La Clayette in Lyon France.
After the local economy and industry was afffected by the German occupation of the area Francois wanted to mobilise the people of France with sturdy vehicles that also had flair and set the standard for European handling
List of Models
1952 Ambronay
1953 Croisière
1957 l’Americain
The taillights on each model are quite small for the car’s body. Other than that, this is a great design.
I think you can’t make them larger without causing weird morphing.
The fist car to come out of the Lyon factory in 1952 is the Ambronay small family car
This was built using a modern monocoque construction. The suspension is a tried and tested combination of front wishbones and a leaf sprung live axle at the back.
The Decapotable model had the specifications of the “mobilisation” with the 1203cc engine from the “luxe” model making it the more sporty of the range. A luxe model could be special ordered if required.
Engine specifications:
998cc 3 cylinder in “mobilisation”
34bhp@4200rpm
62NM@3300rpm
0-100 km/h 30.6 seconds
top speed of 107km/h
1203cc in “luxe”
39bhp@4300rpm
70NM@3000rpm
0-100 km/h 26.9 seconds
top speed of 112km/h
all models.
225mm twin leading shoe front brakes, 225mm single leading shoe rear brakes.
3 speed manual transmission
double wishbone front suspension
leaf spring live axle rear suspension
external trafficator to rear of vehicle
twin front headlights with separate parking lights
lap belts and safety tempered glass
optional is a manual locking rear differential and off road capable tyres in “conduite hors route” package, this will include removal of rear wheel covers.
sm0l
The Ambronay was a reasonably good selling car in it’s first year of production however the obvious limitations of it’s size couldn’t be hidden. With only a 2 door sedan or 2 door cabriolet available sales were needed in larger family, premium and utility segments. Work on a larger and more capable model to sell alongside the Ambronay was started just before the Ambronay was launched.
A body on frame construction was considered for ease of re-bodying different models however the factory had invested a lot into monocoque techniques so this was kept on for the new larger car. Double wishbone front suspension and a live axle rear was also used as the car kept some of the same suspension and engine mountings from the Ambronay.
The engine was the new inline 6, this was created by using a lot of components from the “trois moteurs” engine and kept the same cylinder dimensions and basic construction.
The basic floorpan and running gear shown here
The fully designed 1953 Courageux Croisière
The standard model of the car was the Croisière berline populaire
This was powered by a 2.0 inline 6 with a 4 speed gearbox. Equipment level was a standard 5 seat interior, steel wheels with chrome trims. Front and rear lap belts and safety glass is standard across all models.
Technical Specifications
engine:
1996cc inline 6 cylinder
73.5bhp@ 4500rpm
133NM@3300rpm
0-100km/h 15.8 seconds
top speed of 149km/h
The upper trim level was the berline luxe
This has a more premium 5 seat interior with leather seat facings and wood dashboard trim. A high quality AM radio is also included on this trim level. The exterior has both driver and passenger wing mirrors, a two tone paint finish with chrome edging. The bumpers have over riders fitted and the fuel door is fitted with a lock. Wider wheels are standard on the luxe with chrome hub covers
Technical specifications
engine:
2400cc inline 6
85bhp@4500rpm
153NM@3300rpm
0-100km/h in 14.7 seconds
top speed 156km/h
Both models were also avalable as a Voyageur estate variant.
shown below is the Croisière Voyageur Luxe
The voyageur models included fold out rear seats in the boot area, extra windows in the roof for extra visibilty and a roof rack as an extra. The tailgate was an interesting design whereby the top section folded up and the lower section opened like a door
A pickup variant was added to the range in 1955.
This was not the full utility vehicle some had been hoping for as it was based on the Voyageur floorpan, it did however give the ability to carry large sized loads such as hay bales. A rail was fitted along the side of the bed to tie down loads or a canvas cover. The engine was the 2.0 inline 6 but tuned differently for torque at lower levels and increased fuel economy, a variant able to run on lower quality 85 RON fuel was also available in certain markets.
Technical specifications
engine:
1996cc inline 6
71bhp@4300rpm
137NM@2600rpm
0-100km/h in 15.5 seconds
top speed 148km/h
1955 also brought in a few small changes to the range, the trafficators were replaced by front indicators below the headlights. The Luxe model also gained a heated rear screen and more comfortable springs
The largest change was the introduction of a 2 speed automatic gearbox on the luxe automatique, this model can be identified by the small vents behind the front indicators and the badging to the rear
The 1960 facelift of the car was a simplified design overall with the grille replaced with a simpler 3 bar design, the front indicators replaced with rectangle units containing parking lights. The rear lights were also replaced with simpler glass rectangle pieces. The mirrors were placed in the doors instead of the wings and all models got twin mirrors. Two tone paints were gone from the range, with a chrome stripe replacing the previous design.
The shown car was a new model to replace the “populaire”, called the “berline de base” this was not available as a voyageur. The 2.0 engine was replaced with a new 1.5 4 cylinder with improved fuel economy.
Technical specifications
engine:
1500 inline 4
59bhp@4500rpm
101NM@3400rpm
0-100km/h in 19.1 seconds
top speed 140km/h
(more variants to be added)
placeholder for Courageux Van
placeholder for Courageux Ambronay B
To better compete in the valuable american market, and also in the large premium sector in Europe a full size car was developed using the Croisiere as a base. Using much of the same running gear the “l’americain” was developed and launched in 1957.
The standard variant was the 2000 berline, with a 2.0 inline 6 engine.
Even for the base variant the car is well equipped with leather seats, wood grain dash and door tops and a single speaker am radio.
The exterior was modelled after 50’s american cars with a liberal amount of chrome on most exterior trim.
A 4 speed manual gearbox was standard equipment, along with drums brakes all round, power steering and comfort springs.
Technical Specifications
engine:
1996cc inline 6 cylinder
78.7bhp@ 4500rpm
139NM@3300rpm
0-100km/h 17.2seconds
top speed of 155km/h
The berline 2400 was the upmarket sedan model. Powered by a 2.4 inline 6 engine. A 2 speed automatic was optional at this level
The interior had more luxurious seats with higher quality leather. A wooden steering wheel and gear change was included. A better two speaker am radio was also standard equipment.
The exterior added white wall tyres, bumper over riders and driving lamps set into the grille. The grille design was also a slightly more chrome design.
Technical Specifications
engine:
2400cc inline 6 cylinder
98.6bhp@ 4500rpm
173NM@3300rpm
0-100km/h 23.0seconds ( 2 speed automatic)
top speed of 162km/h
All of the sedan models, have double wishbone front suspension, with a coil sprung live axle rear and variable rate springs with front anti roll bar. Four wheel power drum brakes and hydraulic power steering.
An estate model was also available along with the berline and coupe models. Mechanically these were the same as the sedan models except they have a leaf sprung rear suspension for better load carrying. They also have a fold out 3rd row with 2 seats. The only engine available was the 2.4 inline 6.
Technical Specifications
engine:
2400cc inline 6 cylinder
90.8bhp@ 4400rpm
166NM@2700rpm
0-100km/h 15.8 seconds ( 4 speed manual)
top speed of 164km/h
The range was facelifted lightly in 1959. The front grille was changed to a wider design with the driving lamps integrated into the sides. The indicators were moved to the top of the wheel arches. Mirrors were now on the front doors. Th bumper over riders now had a more contemporary round design. At the rear a continental spare tyre was an option built into the body.
A 3 speed auto was now an option instead of the previous 2 speed.
A sports pack was an option that added twin carbs and a tubular sports exhaust to the car. along with power front disc brakes.
Technical Specifications
engine:
2400cc inline 6 cylinder
100bhp@ 4500rpm
173.5NM@2700rpm
0-100km/h 16.1 seconds ( 3 speed automatic)
top speed of 163km/h
The Voyaguer estate models were facelifted the same as the sedans. The roof was offered in two tone paint with a roof rack in the secondary paint area.
Technical Specifications
engine:
2400cc inline 6 cylinder
93bhp@ 4500rpm
165.9NM@2900rpm
0-100km/h 15.2 seconds ( 4 speed manual)
top speed of 164km/h
