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In October of 1952, the visitors of the Paris Auto Show would discover an astonishing car with a shapely body hiding a gas turbine. The S.O.C.E.M.A (Company of Constructions and Mechanical Equipment for Aviation) had exhibited several engines at the aviation show of 1949. Those in charge of developing the turbines were also interested in the possibility of ground applications. The idea to design a very compact gas turbine and to install it into a car had been born.
The automobile part of this project was entrusted to a French engineer by the name of Jean Albert Gregoire. The prototype was made of aluminium cast and the manufacturing and assembly of the body were done at Hotchkiss. For the transmission an electromagnetic COTAL unit was chosen. Given the fact that a turbine does not generate any braking effect upon deceleration, an electromagnetic TELMA brake system was added to the transmission. The gas turbine used in this prototype had a weight of 130 kg (or 280 pounds), and - in theory - was designed to accelerate the 1300 kg (2800 pound) vehicle up to a speed of 200km/h (120 mp/h).
The final development of the SOCEMA Gregoire - however - was far from being accomplished. The problems of operating temperature, fuel consumption, turbine manufacturing costs and the design of a complex brake system were major hurdles. Shortly after its official presentation to journalists and a test run of the prototype, the futuristic project of the SOCEMA Gregoire was abandoned.
The actual SOCEMA Gregoire car is we understand currently on display at the Museum 24 Heures du Mans in Sarthe, France.
| Product Code:
| SBZ233 |
| Manufacturer:
| Bizarre |
| Category: |
Road Car - Concept |
| Scale:
| 1:43 |
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