Rovin

Last updated
Rovin
IndustryMotor cycle dealer and producer
Automobiles dealer and producer
Founded1921 (initially as a motor cycle business)
1946 (regular automobile production)
Defunct1958
Headquarters,
Key people
Raoul Pegulu, Marquis of Rovin (1896-1949)
Robert de Rovin

Rovin was a French auto-maker established in the Paris region, and most active from 1946 until 1959, although after 1953 production slowed to a trickle. The firm was established, initially as a motor-cycle business, in 1921 by the racing driver and motorcycle constructor, Raoul Pegulu, Marquis of Rovin (1896 - 1949). The car was developed by Raoul but in 1946 production became the responsibility of his brother, Robert who continued to run the business after Raoul's death.

Contents

First steps as an automobile-producer

In the 1930s Rovin had turned his attention to a sportscar dealership which he established in Paris on the Boulevard Pereire. Although the business was at this stage concentrated on the dealership, Raoul Rovin was already offering a little car of his own design at the 20th Paris Motor Show in October 1926. [1] Powered by a 4CV single cylinder 480cc motor, the offering was baptised by its manufacturer as the "Monocar", and was listed in two versions, either as a "Monocar Sport" for 19,000 francs or as a "Monocar Record" which was fitted with a compressor (a form of "turbo-charger") and priced at 22,000 francs. [1]

The Plant

The premises were not suitable for auto-production on the scale foreseen after the war, however, and in 1946 Rovin purchased the plant of Delaunay-Belleville, once famous as a luxury car maker and more recently also a builder of military trucks that had been deprived of customers by the dire state of the postwar economy and the return of peace to France. The plant was now adapted to build small cheap cars more appropriate to the times.

Rovin Type D1

The prototype Rovin D1 was presented at the Paris Motor Show towards the end of 1946. The car was a very small cabriolet.

It was powered by a single cylinder 260 cc air cooled four stroke engine. The engine's small size placed the car in the 2CV fiscal horse power category, and actual claimed power was only 6.5 hp. Supported by a three speed gear box, this permitted the manufacturer to claim a top speed of 70 km/h (44 mph). There were no doors, and the focus of sloping front of the car was a single headlight. [2]

Rovin Type D2

Rovin D2 (1949) Rovin D2 (1949) 1X7A8140.jpg
Rovin D2 (1949)

It is not clear whether the D1 was ever sold in significant numbers, but production of the Rovin D2 started in 1947 at the company's newly acquired plant at Saint-Denis. The car still qualified (just) for the 2CV fiscal horse power category, but the engine was now a flat twin 423 cc four stroke water cooled unit. Claimed power output was now 10 hp and the car still featured a three speed gear box. Top speed was "between 70 and 80 km/h (44- 50 mph).

The body was again very small, at just 2800 mm in length and with a 1700 mm wheelbase, and light-weight construction allowed for an empty weight of just 300 Kg. The vehicle now had two headlights. The engine was still at the back, but a small hatch in the body work right at the front of the car provided access to the battery. [3]

Although most sales were in France, the car was also advertised in the francophone western Swiss press and exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show early in 1948. [3]

During 1947 and 1948 approximately 700 D2s were produced. [2]

Rovin Type D3

Rovin D3 (1949) Rovin Type D3 (1949).jpg
Rovin D3 (1949)

The D3 was little changed from the D2 under the skin, but the "skin" was an all new ponton format body with doors. The headlamps still stood out from the body, which presumably was a less costly solution than integrating them to the wings. The extra weight of doors and hinges and additional window did add some penalty and the car now weighted 380 kg. Nevertheless, a maximum speed of 75 km/h (47 mph) was claimed.

Between 1948 and 1950 approximately 800 D3s were made. [2]

In 1947/1949 a few ROVIN cars were imported and sold in Uruguay. Alejo Neyeloff.

Rovin Type D4

Rovin D4 (1953) 1953RovinD4.jpg
Rovin D4 (1953)

The D4 represented a mild evolution from the D3, [4] with a larger front grille and the (still not integrated) headlights positioned a little higher.

The two cylinder engine was enlarged to 462 cc and now developed 13 hp. By now the overall length was 3150 mm on a wheelbase of 1800 mm. [5] The gear box now featured four forward speeds and the top speed had increased to 85 km/h (53 mph). [6] Minor cosmetic changes and suspension improvements were implemented towards the end of 1952. [5]

About 1,200 D4s were produced between 1950 and 1953, but in 1953 production had slumped to just 110. [5] Although the model continued to be listed for several more years it is not clear how many, if any, were produced after this.

Related Research Articles

Unic French manufacturer

Unic was a French manufacturer founded in 1905, and active as an automobile producer until July 1938. After this the company continued to produce commercial vehicles, retaining its independence for a further fourteen years before being purchased in 1952 by Henri Pigozzi, who was keen to develop Unic as a commercial vehicle arm of the then flourishing Simca business.

Peugeot 403 French car produced from 1955-1966

The Peugeot 403 is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed by Peugeot between May 1955 and October 1966. A total of 1,214,121 of all types, including commercial models, were produced, making it the first Peugeot to exceed one million in sales.

Renault Juvaquatre Motor vehicle

The Renault Juvaquatre is a small family car / compact car automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault between 1937 and 1960, although production stopped or slowed to a trickle during the war years. The Juvaquatre was produced as a sedan/saloon until 1948 when the plant switched its full attention to the new Renault 4CV. During the second half of 1952 the plant restarted production of the Juvaquatre sedans/saloons for a period of approximately five months.

Renault Caravelle Motor vehicle

The Renault Caravelle is a sports car manufactured and marketed by Renault for model years 1958–1968 in a single generation — as a rear-engine, rear-drive open two/four-seater designed by Pietro Frua of Carrozzeria Ghia, using the floorpan and engine of the Renault Dauphine.

Georges Irat French automobile

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

Simca Aronde Motor vehicle

The Simca Aronde is an automobile which was manufactured by the French automaker Simca from 1951 to 1964. It was Simca's first original design, as well as the company's first unibody car. "Aronde" means "swallow" in Old French and it was chosen as the name for the model because Simca's logo at that time was a stylized swallow.

Renault NN Motor vehicle

The Renault NN, generally known to contemporaries simply as the Renault 6 CV, is a compact car or small family car manufactured by Renault from 1924 to 1930.

Buchet was a French motorcycle and automobile manufacturer between 1911 and 1930.

Renault Monaquatre Motor vehicle

The Monaquatre was a small family car assembled by Renault between 1931 and 1936. It used a conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration and was powered by a four-cylinder water-cooled engine.

Corre La Licorne

Corre La Licorne was a French car maker founded 1901 in Levallois-Perret, at the north-western edge of central Paris, by Jean-Marie Corre. Cars were produced until 1947.

Boitel is a former French automaker.

Bignan (automobile)

The Bignan was a French automobile manufactured between 1918 and 1931 on the north side of central Paris, in Courbevoie. The business was created, and till the mid 1920s-headed up, by Jacques Bignan.

Berliet Dauphine 11CV Motor vehicle

The Berliet Dauphine is a family car produced by Berliet at their Vénissieux plant on the south side of Lyon between summer 1934 and 1939. The original cars had a 1990cc engine placing them in the 11CV car tax band, but this was quickly joined by a 1,600cc (9CV) version, and at one stage a 14CV powered version was advertised as available “sur commande”.

Delage D6 Motor vehicle

The Delage D6 was a six-cylinder luxury car produced by the manufacturer between 1930 and 1940 and again, after the war, between 1946 and 1953. For much of this time it was the company’s principal or, from 1946, only model.

Delage D8 Motor vehicle

The Delage D8 was an eight-cylinder luxury car produced by Delage between 1929 and 1940.

Salmson S4 Motor vehicle

The Salmson S4 is a mid-size executive-level car introduced as the Salmson S4 C by Société des Moteurs Salmson in Autumn 1932. It was the manufacturer's principal and often sole model for the next twenty years.

The Delage D4 was a 4-cylinder compact luxury car in the 8CV car tax band produced by the manufacturer between 1933 and 1934.

Octo was a French automobile manufactured at Courbevoie by Louis Vienne between 1921 and 1928.

Oméga-Six

Automobiles Oméga-Six was a French automobile manufactured in the Paris region by Gabriel Daubeck between 1922 and 1930.

Renault Vivasport Motor vehicle


The Renault Vivasport was a 6-cylinder engined executive automobile introduced by Renault in September 1933 and produced till April 1935. A larger engined version was produced between December 1934 and February 1938. As with many Renaults during the 1930s, type changes as well as small often cosmetic facelifts and upgrades appeared frequently.

References

  1. 1 2 "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1927 (salon [Oct] 1926). Paris: Histoire & collections. Nr.78s: 77. 2006.
  2. 1 2 3 Histoire de l'automobile, par Philippe Boursin
  3. 1 2 "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1948 (salon Paris oct 1947). Paris: Histoire & collections. Nr. 7: 72. 1998.
  4. Le blog auto
  5. 1 2 3 "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1953 (salon Paris oct 1952). Paris: Histoire & collections. Nr. 14: 67. 2000.
  6. Rovin D4, Microcar Museum