Ariès (cars)

Ariès is an old firm of manufacture of cars creates in 1903 by the baron Charles Petiet.

History

Coldly graduate as an engineer of the central School of arts and manufactures of Paris, Charles Petiet creates the Société of the Cars Ariès , with Villeneuve-the-Garenne quay of Argenteuil (Sisley quay).
The name Ariès is the Latin translation of the word ram, an animal which symbolizes the force, the audacity and the agility, of qualities that the Baron Petiet makes a point of finding in its cars. The choice of Villeneuve-the-Garenne, is dictated thanks to a contract signed with the factory Aster for the supply of the engines, which will equip the first models Ariès , and which has its factory with Villeneuve.
The Baron Petiet intends to design cars which are qualities and robust. The success of its first models encourages it in this way, a complete range of vehicles Ariès is born, it extends from the model C of 8/10 HP to the model F of 30/35 HP.

Fine 1903, an agent sales undertakes a turn of France, of approximately 5.000km, at the wheel of a Ariès standard B (12/14 HP), without mechanical incidents. It is a superb publicity which comes at the right moment for this incipient company.

Quickly, " anciens" models improve and of new make their appearance.

In 1905, those of the series G (18/22 or 30/35 HP) then I (12/15 then 18/22 HP). The Ariès G3, 4 cylinders, rejoins the factory Ariès of Lyon, to 500 km, in less than 8 a.m., with a consumption 10 liters to the 100, a record for the time. This same year Ariès establishes the record of the mile with Ostend with 106 km/h.

Parallel to the development of the private cars, of the commercial vehicles are studied and of the vans take part in the military operations.
Always in 1905, Ariès builds Omnibus. They will be the first to ensure the passenger transport in rural environment.

In 1906, Ariès markets the luxurious model L of 12 liters cubic capacity.

In 1907, the models P (20/30 HP) are launched, they will constitute the model headlights of the mark to the war.

It is on board a model of the series O that Edmond Borde, brother-in-law of Charles Petiet, succeeds in rejoining Paris and Madrid in 44 hours with an average consumption of 11,5 liters to the 100.
This experiment proves that small cars can be equal the large ones, on the level of the endurance and performances.
As a manufacturer of industrial vehicles Ariès produces two new models, the first with a payload of 700 kg and the second between 4,5 and 6,5 tons.
The vehicles Ariès also provide the foreign countries. Ariès exports bus on floor for London, the taxis for New York and the trucks leave for the Spain and the Latin America.
Ariès designs its first racing racing car, derived from the frame 20/30 HP, with a box 4 reports/ratios, 4 cylinders, a camshaft at the head and a traditional transmission. Engaged in the circuit of the the Ardennes then to the Cut of the Press and finally to the Coppa Florio in Italy, the car makes only figuration. Nevertheless, the Baron Petiet persists in the competition and it concentrates its efforts on one-cylinder model VT, with 4 valves and a camshaft at the head.

In 1908, this car gains some victories and places of honors. But Charles Petiet stops temporarily the participation of Ariès in race.

Whereas the top-of-the-range models THIS and Q, derived from the model L leave the chains, the economic crisis of 1908 striking.
The tendency is then with the models popular and cheap, the factory of Villeneuve-the-Garenne produces the model B then.

In 1909, the economic crisis persist, the crenel of the economic small car is required more and more, Ariès thus proposes the model S, a utra-light car.

In 1910, Ariès continues in the vehicles of " poche" with the standard series V (8/10 HP) which, like the models S, will be packed to pass in the category of the 10/12 HP starting from 1912.

Ariès diversifies the production of the commercial vehicles, innovates by marketing the first dump truck trucks.

In 1911, the R4 truck, will obtain the premium which the Ministry for the war with an aim offers of promoting road transport of quality. Blow, with the passing of years, Ariès will regularly present its trucks to the various contests organized by the army or to the contests of regularity and consumption, being classified each time in the places of honor.

In 1912 the last evolution of the model P adopts the engine Knight without-valve.

In 1912 always, a series of trucks of average tonnages, R6, makes its appearance thus.

In 1913 it engages three private cars 12/16 HP in the Tour de France. On the 28 cars at the beginning, 17 will be on arrival including two Ariès , one of them gaining the test.

When the war bursts, Ariès , takes part in the effort of war and increases the rate/rhythm of its production. More than 3.000 trucks 18/24 HP will be manufactured during the war, like some private cars intended for the State Major.

From 1916, Ariès also manufactures engines of planes V8 Hispano-Suiza. A factory is built, with Paris, in the 20th district.

In 1918 the production Ariès starts again. The buildings of Villeneuve-the-Garenne are abandoned with the profit of a new factory located at Courbevoie, avenue Marceau. Model DC leaves the chains.

In 1920, Ariès takes again the series production S of 1913 which, reactualized, takes the name of " News 15 HP Ariès". These models will be built until in 1929, in various versions, of which a utility.

In 1923 appears a new model, the CC4. It is an evolution about the CC2 which makes it possible to propose cars 4 places and either 2/3 places. The engine output is developed and them cars will be indifferently referred CC4 (CC4-2, CC4-3, CC4N,…) or S (SL2, S4,…), S indicating sport or super.

In 1925 the engineers of Ariès present genuine racing racing cars. These models, " Large sport" , profit from inflated engines, with camshaft at the head and are equipped with very beautiful body open and shaped with very sporting vocation. Engaged in several tests, the cars behave honourably. But they are especially the versions Grand Sport 3 liters, using a more powerful engine, which are distinguished. Second in the famous Boillot cut in 1926, a Great Sport 3 liters finishes in the first place in the hill climbs of Boulogne and Argenteuil, before gaining, the following year, the 6 hours of Burgundy, the 24 hours of Belgium, the cut Florio, Critérium International and finally the Boillot cut, to only quote most important.

In 1927 Ariès takes part in the 24 hours of Mans, but gives up. With the 22e hour the GP 2 head of the race gives up. This same, one 8/10 HP Ariès, of series, is illustrated at the time of a raid of 20.000 km around the Sahara, showing the robustness and the endurance of this model.

In the field of the utilities, if immediate the post-war period were satisfactory, the businesses périclitent, especially starting from 1923. Not only the request is blown, but competition is done increasingly serious, with Berliet and Renault in particular.
The sales of the cars are they also threatened and whereas many marks disappear, Ariès endeavors to survive by simplifying its catalog gradually, to direct itself towards the single model, type CB4.

In 1934 the company leaves the series 10/50 which will be declined in several versions until 1936. This series presents important innovations:

- flying on the left (like the vehicles Unic),
- direction articulated by Cardan joints (like Traction before Citroen), inter alia
- cylinder head with mixed distribution, inlet valves at the head and side exhaust valves which allow a top speed of 120Km/h,
- transmission with double reducing gear.
These innovations make model 10/50 a very expensive car.

The crisis, helping, the Baron Petiet suggests a coalition which would gather the various French manufacturers. This solution will not succeed. Certain manufacturers reorientating their activities towards the industrial vehicles (Berliet and Unic) or towards the production of engines of plane (Salmson or Hispano-Suiza). Others will link ourselves such Mathis and Ford, the Unicorn and Citroen, but these unions of circumstance finish all at the expense of smallest of the partners.

In 1938, production of the models Ariès , which had been the proof of originality, exceptional qualities, interesting performances and a comfort which often made them compare with the prestigious British mark Rolls-Royce, cease.

What could make a small manufacturer, who produced, approximately, 20.000 frames, only, in 35 years?
What could make, this tiny manufacturer, vis-a-vis the great industrialists who produce hundred times more quickly?
The Baron Petiet does not want a forced marriage, then, in 1938, it decides to put a term earlier the started adventure 35 years and the mark disappears.

The Ariès models

Standard C 8/10 HP
Standard F 30/35 HP
1903: Type B 12/14 HP
1905: Type G 18/22 HP
1905: Type G 30/35 HP
1905: Type G3
1905: Type I 12/15 HP
1905: Type I 18/22 HP
1906: Type L
1906: Type D2
1907: Type P 20/30 HP
1907: Type O
1908: Type VT
1908: Type THIS
1908: Type Q
1908: Type B
1909: Type Q2
1909: Type S
1910: Type V 8/10 HP
1910: Dump truck truck
1910: Truck R4
1912: Type V 10/12 HP
1912: Type P
1912: Truck R6
1915: Type DC, then CC2, CC2N, CC2-3
1920: News type 15 HP
1923: Type CC4, CC4-2, CC4-3, CC4N
1923: Type S, SL2, S4
1930: Type CB4 L, CB4 BL, CB4 B1, CB4 B2
1934: Type has
1934: Type C
1935: Type B
1935: Type C2

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