Rolland-Pilain

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Rolland-Pilain was a French car maker based in Tours. It was founded on November 4, 1905, by François Rolland and Émile Pilain at 95 rue Victor-Hugo. The founders began by repairing and selling cars, then started building their own vehicles in 1907. In 1911 the company moved to 44 place Rabelais in Tours and became a Société Anonyme (a limited company). It kept that form until money ran out in 1925.

During World War I, Rolland-Pilain produced shells and aircraft engine parts and used a female workforce. After the war, Gnome et Rhône moved some of its aero-engine production to Tours and invested in Rolland-Pilain, taking a majority share in 1918, though they disposed of their stake in 1920. Management gradually shifted from François Rolland to his son Lucien Rolland, while Émile Pilain remained involved and Léon Pilain, who had worked for Delahaye in Paris, also took on a larger role.

In the postwar years the company launched several cars. At the Paris Motor Show in October 1919, Rolland-Pilain exhibited three models: the RP 10HP (4-cylinder, 1924cc), the M6 14HP (6-cylinder, 2770cc), and the CR 18HP (4-cylinder, 3969cc). Prices were 13,500 francs, 18,500 francs, and 23,000 francs, respectively. Cars were shown as bare chassis with lighting; tires were not included.

By 1924–1925 new models appeared, shown again at the Paris show in 1924. The lineup included the RP 10HP (1924cc, 3,000 mm wheelbase) at 24,000 francs; the B25 10/25HP (4-cylinder OHV, 1924cc, 3,040 mm wheelbase) at 27,300 francs; the C23 or Rolland-Pilain 2-litre (2008cc, OHV, 3,200 mm wheelbase) at 39,500 francs; and the CRK 18HP (OHV, 3969cc, 3,250 mm wheelbase) at 24,000 francs. Again, tyres were not included in these prices.

Rolland-Pilain also competed in racing. They took part in Grand Prix events and the Le Mans 24 Hours race. The highlight came in 1923 when Albert Guyot won the San Sebastián Grand Prix driving a Rolland-Pilain A22. At Le Mans in 1924 and 1925, they entered three torpedo-bodied cars with around 1997cc engines; only one finished, in seventh place, driven by Jean de Marguenat and Louis Sire. The company also gained publicity from the Tranin-Duverne endurance drive across Africa from Conakry to Djibouti in late 1924–early 1925 with a 10HP Rolland-Pilain—the first wheeled car to cross the African continent from west to east.

Financial trouble eventually caught up with Rolland-Pilain. In 1926 the founders lost control of the company, production ended in 1927, and the firm defaulted on its debts in 1928. After a period of struggle, the factory closed in 1932. In total, more than 5,000 cars had been built.