“An Eclipse roof? What a fantastic idea!” Boulevard Marcel Pourtout in Rueil-Malmaison is named after a man who brought many fantastic ideas to life. Marcel Pourtout was a coachbuilder. He founded his company, Carrosserie Pourtout, in 1925. Boulevard Marcel Pourtout is a reminder of his legacy. In the early days, Pourtout’s workshop specialized in building lightweight, fabric-covered bodies. He quickly gained a reputation for quality and attention to detail. This attracted the attention of affluent clients and car dealers like Emile Darl’mat. Darl’mat had a keen eye for innovation. He was fascinated by the work of a young dentist named Georges Paulin. Paulin had invented a revolutionary retractable hardtop called the “Eclipse” roof. Darl’mat saw the potential and commissioned Pourtout to build a Peugeot 601 equipped with this ingenious roof. The car, with its sleek, aerodynamic design, debuted at the 1935 Concours d’Elegance in Monte Carlo. It was a sensation. The retractable hardtop, disappearing seamlessly into the car’s tail, captured the imagination of the public. Imagine driving along Boulevard Marcel Pourtout in a Peugeot 601 Eclipse, the sun shining, the wind in your hair. Then, at the first sign of rain, with a touch of a button, the solid roof elegantly glides into place. Thanks to the collaboration of Pourtout, Darl’mat and Paulin, that dream became a reality. The legacy of these three automotive pioneers lives on, not just in the cars they created, but also here, on Boulevard Marcel Pourtout.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.