In 1885 Karl Benz was awarded a patent for a three-wheeled automobile powered by an internal-combustion engine that would secure its place in history as the first true automobile, as opposed to steam or electric-powered vehicles that were developed from carts or horse-drawn carriages.
1911 ACf GP Rolland-Pillain Rigal 11
The arrival of the Benz Tri-Car rapidly led to the creation of numerous automobile companies, all hoping to capitalise on this exciting invention while their founders looked to make their fortune. Each year, new companies launched their versions of the automobile with the majority based in Europe, rapidly spreading as far afield as the USA and Australia. By 1900, France was home to numerous manufacturers, creating up to twelve such companies each year. Some of the names survived the test of time, such as the French manufacturer, Renault, founded in 1899 while the UK saw the arrival of Morgan in 1910, a company that has also defied the march of time; the same cannot be said of another UK manufacturer launched in 1898 to sell cars under the title of ‘Alldays and Onions’. Despite the unusual name it survived for almost twenty years but is now forgotten. But it was France that initially embraced the automobile and motor sport, creating long-distance races that were tests of endurance designed to prove and promote the quality of their creations. In 1905 a Tours-based automobile repair company, Rolland-Pilain, was created by a successful wine producer and his nephew and in 1907 began to construct their own automobiles. Despite limited resources, the company developed a range of automobiles from sports cars to luxury saloons, many of which featured hydraulic brakes. By the 1920s the company had developed a range of four-cylinder cars that were moderately successful but eventually the money ran out. By 1925 the founders had departed and the business struggled on for a few more years before it closed its doors having built 5000 cars during its existence. The photograph shows an impressive example of an early Rolland-Pilain chain-driven sports car at the start of the 1911 French Grand Prix de l’ACF that took place around a 54-kilometre triangular road circuit near Le Mans, the first time a section of what is now known as the Mulsanne Straight was used. The car was driven by Victor Rigal and ran in fifth place during the twelve-lap race before retiring on lap seven. Only one car completed all twelve laps but another Rolland-Pilain claimed third place after completing nine laps.
