Mochet Cars Pre 1945

Charles Mochet started with the production of a car in 1927: 'La 4 Chevaux C.M.' It had a 350 cc engine, 3 forward and one reverse gear. Supposedly 200 examples produced but non in existence, so maybe the total number is questionable?! (1927 is based on an article from June 1927)

Mochet produced the Velocar since 1928 and 1931 brought another try to be a Car Manufacturer. The Ptitauto with a 175 cc engine Possible 20 produced. (??) We do have a press article from May 1931 and in November 1933 you could win a Ptitauto. That would be nearly 3 years - maybe more cars were produced?

The only known Ptitauto. Info here http://microcar.e-monsite.com/blog/ptitauto-mochet-1933.html

Mochet wrote in a letter in 1941 that he NOT delivers Velocars with a motor nor does he recommend it. However a few after-sales conversions are know. A couple come from a company 'VEL' which seems to have converted as well another Velomobile, the OTO.

VEL plaque #386 of a Velocar (has the Mochet plaque additionally) and got converted to a 'car' by VEL. Was previously in the Bruce Weiner Collection.

Same plaque on an OTO. The number is probably 372 (top left).

Engine was an air-cooled Zurcher and the price was 41,395 Francs.

The biggest difference to the Velocar is a sturdy front screen. Wheel size was 450x55 the same as the pre war Velocar. 

It still carried the pedals. Which were needed to start the engine.

The Type H was basically a Velocar Cyclotourist with a motor. Shown here is ex Bruce Weiner. http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/velocar-hm.html

The petrol tank at the back. No accidents then ... Here a later reconstruction with the boot closed. 

We know of 4 Type H. Sometimes it's difficult to say if it is a Type H (motorised by Mochet) or an earlier Velocar with an after market conversion. Here a plaque clearly stating 'H 742'. This and 'H 982' are currently the only known with a 'H' plaque.

Enginge was still the air-cooled Zurcher but it got a different gear box with now 3 gears. Price was given as 107,712 Francs plus 6,336 for a hood but 1 1/2 month delivery time!

The body work was completely done by hand so it was basically sheet  metal put together. Hence a lot of 'lines' on the body work.

Year of the ad is unknown.

Currently 3 or 4 Type K are known two with frame numbers of 1,517 and 1,560. The above is Bruce Weiner. http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/mochet-k.html

The rear is open which helps the air cooled engine.  Wheel size was 450x65.

The Type K was approximately built from 1947 to 1949.

Following on from the Type K the next version was the Type CM. Wheel size was 450x65.

Advertised with a single head lamp. But most cars seems to have 2 head lamps.

This advert is from 1950. It still advertises the Type CM. Prices recorded as 124,644 Francs plus 9,537 for a hood and another  6,120 for breaking lights, horn and re-chargeable battery.

We have 7 frame numbers on record ranging from 2,020 to 2,264. The whole body shape now much more rounded. Still got the windscreen struts from the Type K.

Already showing the typical lines of the best known Mochet car, the later CM 125. The motor was fully covered and the petrol tank was inside the body work.

The very same part to hold the steering column to the body work was used on the Pre-War Velocars.

The CM 125 started off again with the Zurcher engine. Prices from catalogues are 160,000 Francs and later rising to 230,00 Francs for the CM 125.

The Commerciale was 20,000 Francs extra and had a permitted loading capacity of 100 kg. Wheel size on the Commerciale was 550x85 while 450x65 on the standard CM 125.

Advert published in 1951.

The best known Mochet car. We have currently 26x CM125 and 3x CM125 Commerciale on record.Frame numbers ranging from 2,490 to 3,526.

Still a very spartan looking dashboard. And still using the brass item with the 'Velocar' inscription to hold the steering wheel. Why spent money on different parts if you still have them?!

With the Type CM 125 there was for the first time a 'Commerciale' available. Currently tree frame numbers of Commerciale are known to us.

The CM 125 Grande Luxe did cost 270,000 Francs (the CM 125 at this time c. 1953 230,000)

Introduced c. 1953. We have got 8 frame numbers on record ranging from 3,092 to 3,469.

Advert.

Price was complete with a hood and a spare wheel (under the bonnet accessible from the inside.)

Rear view of the CM 125 Grande Luxe.

The 2 spoke steering wheel.

The CM 125Y or CM 175Y now had a Ydral engine. Advert start to occour in 1955. So the model was probably ready late in 1954.

The lady in the car is probaly Miss France. Apparently she lived on the same Plaza as the Mochet's and they just ask here if she could please pose with it. Different times then ...

Prices for the CM 125 Y recorded as 315,000 Francs and later 330,000 Francs and for the CM 175 Y 330,000 and 345,000 Francs.

The wheels were now more modern steel wheels and the wheel size was 550x85.

We have 21 frame numbers on record ranging from 3,742 to 5,109. 3 of these are Commerciale.

Production of the Mochet cars declined the moment the law was changed and required every car driver to have a driving licence. Mochet and other small makes were gone in a blink by the end of 1957 or early 1958.

Two prototypes were built in 1953 and one of them was Georges Mochet personal car for the next few years until they left Paris.

You can see the 750 ccm flat twin Cemec motor in the back ground. The car was built by Antem.

Paris Motor Show 1953 Antem stall.

According to Herman Bruening the Mochet CM 750 has been raced at the Balod'Or in 1955. 

 Carrossier Antem in Courbevoie.