Imagine Ernest Chenard, a railway engineer with a passion for bicycles. He likely never envisioned that a passage might one day bear his name. This is the story of Passage Chenard, though it is more accurately the story of the man behind the name.
Chenard joined forces with Henri Walcker, a mining engineer, in 1898. Together they founded Chenard-Walcker, an automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturer. Their collaboration began with motor tricycles. By January 19, 1899, their automobile business was officially established. Chenard took charge of design, while Walcker managed sales and finance.
In 1900, the business was registered as Chenard, Walcker et Compagnie. Initially, they produced quadricycles to ensure commercial viability. However, in 1900, their first true automobile, the Chenard et Walcker Type A, was approved. This vehicle featured a two-cylinder, 1,160 cc engine of their design. It drove the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox and an unusual transmission system. The car was displayed at the 1901 Paris Salon. The Chenard et Walcker Type B followed in 1901. Soon a wider range of vehicles was available.
Chenard-Walcker wasn’t just about innovation. In March 1906, the company went public. It was renamed Société Anonyme des Anciens Étabissements Chenard et Walcker. This move led to some confusion over the years. Were the cars Chenard-Walcker or Chenard et Walcker? Both names were used. Annual production increased steadily. A major market was supplying taxis, especially in Paris. By 1910, they produced over 1,500 cars. This made them the ninth-largest car maker in France. A six-cylinder car joined the lineup in 1913.
During World War I, Chenard-Walcker contributed to the war effort. They manufactured Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines. They also produced military versions of the Type U car. After the war, production of the six-cylinder Model UU resumed. In 1920, a new 2,648 cc four-cylinder, the 12CV, was added. FAR commercial vehicles were also produced. Ernest Chenard passed away in 1922. His son, Lucien Chenard, took over the company.
In 1923, a Chenard-Walcker designed by Henri Toutée won the first Le Mans 24 Hours Race. The 3-liter car was driven by René Léonard and André Lagache. Both drivers were engineers employed by Chenard et Walcker. A 2-liter version, the 10/12, was later sold to the public. By 1925, Chenard et Walcker was the fourth-largest car maker in France.
The company faced challenges in the late 1920s. In 1927, Chenard et Walcker entered a consortium with Delahaye and Rosengart. They shared designs and components. The arrangement lasted until 1931 when Chenard et Walcker broke with the other partners.
Despite introducing front independent suspension and front-wheel drive on some models, the company struggled to compete. Chenard-Walcker went bankrupt in 1936. Body maker Chausson took over. Car production ceased in 1939 or 1940.
During the war years, Chenard & Walcker presented a prototype for a light van based ambulance. By 1941, the van was listed for civilian use. In 1950, the vans were rebranded as Peugeot D3 vans. The last vehicles to carry the Chenard name were made in 1950.
So, as you walk through Passage Chenard, remember Ernest Chenard. Remember his journey from bicycles to automobiles. Remember Chenard-Walcker’s legacy of innovation and racing success. It is a story of French automotive history.