Hotchkiss was a French automobile company, manufacturing cars from 1903 to 1954. The factory was established by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, a Connecticut yankee, in Saint-Denis (near Paris) in the 1870's. Hotchkiss originally produced motor components. The first car, a 17 CV four-cylinder model, appeared in 1903. The badge for the marque consisted of a pair of crossed cannons - in reference to the company's original profile.
A factory fire nearly killed all projects. Despite this, a six-cylinder model followed in 1906. During World War I, Hotchkiss manufactured tank parts and weapons. Post war came a luxury model called Type AK (6.6 litre) but only one was built.
In 1920, there was an unsuccessful attempt to build Hotchkiss cars by the British arm of Hotchkiss in Britain - only a prototype was made.
A refined model named Type AM was in production between 1923 and 1928. A new eight-cylinder model, named AM 80 came in 1928. The company made several successful racing cars. Hotchkiss racers won Monte Carlo Rally in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1939, 1949 and 1950.
Hotchkiss 680 was an important model between wars - it had a 6 cylinder, 3 litre engine. In 1937, the company merged with Amilcar. J. A.Grégoire joined the company as a designer. After the World War II, "680" continued. The first new car post war was a 13 CV four-cylinder model.From 1947, 2 litre flat-four models are frequently called Hotchkiss-Grégoire. In 1954, Hotchkiss purchased French manufacturer Delahaye, closing down their automotive line but continuing to produce 'Hotchkiss-Delahaye' trucks for a few months before eliminating the Delahaye name completely. After 1954, Hotchkiss manufactured Jeeps under licence from Willys.
The name of the Hotchkiss firm is associated with a dependent form of rear suspension called the Hotchkiss drive, either through invention or public recognition.
External links
http://britishmm.co.uk/history.asp?id=457
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jeep_man/hist.htm
