The automobile manufacturing company BNC (Bollack, Netter et Cie) started life in 1922 when Lucien Bollack teamed up with banking magnate Netter to take control of an ailing cyclecar manufacturing business run by Jacques Muller, a former engineer with Hispano-Suiza. Muller stayed on in the new company as technical director.
BNC continued manufacture of the Muller cyclecars, with a 4 cylinder 892cc SCAP engine. With its improved management and financial situation, BNC were able to offer a variety of vehicles ranging from a Super-Sport model to a delivery van. For touring and commercial vehicles, the original 900cc SCAP motor was retained. A Ruby engine of 972cc went into the sporting models.
For those wanting good performance, the SCAP motor and sophisticated suspension of the Super Sport made it an attractive proposition. In 1923 it had numerous successes in Voiturettes class of competition, which helped establish its reputation. After 1925, After cyclecars were no longer manufactured. BNC, with its well-established sporting reputation, was well-placed for the change. In 1927 a sporty, low slung, and very modern BNC came on the market with a 32 hp OHV Ruby engine that could reach 120 km/h. A more racey version was available with a blown SCAP motor developing 60 bhp that took the car up to 160 km/h.
BNC had several successes in competition, particularly in long distance races such as the Bol D’Or, where in 1927 they came in 1st and 2nd.
The Depression was looming, and change was again in the air. Bollack and Netter withdrew from BNC. Charles de Ricou, the new head of the firm placed his trust in the sporting reputation of BNC, and entered a 1500cc Meadows-powered car in the 1929 Le Mans 24 hour race. De Rocou tried out a new style of pneumatic suspension which was fitted to a BNC subsidiary AER – in conjunction with a 2 litre engine or an American 4¼ litre engine. The suspension was unreliable. And was later changed to a Delaunay Belleville conventional system.
He also acquired the small firm of Lombard which made competition models, and badged them as BNC.
BNC were successful for a time in competition, notably in the Spa 24 hour race, Brooklands, Chimay and Comminges.
But it was too late, BNC’s reputation was damaged, the public lost confidence, and BNC was on the way out. The firm was liquidated in 1935, when Andre Sirejols, who had driven BNC cars in competition, took it over, and kept the name alive until the 1950s, using Ford 1100cc engines and an adaptation of Simca bodies.
For those wanting good performance, the SCAP motor and sophisticated suspension of the Super Sport made it an attractive proposition. In 1923 it had numerous successes in Voiturettes class of competition, which helped establish its reputation. After 1925, After cyclecars were no longer manufactured. BNC, with its well-established sporting reputation, was well-placed for the change. In 1927 a sporty, low slung, and very modern BNC came on the market with a 32 hp OHV Ruby engine that could reach 120 km/h. A more racey version was available with a blown SCAP motor developing 60 bhp that took the car up to 160 km/h.
BNC had several successes in competition, particularly in long distance races such as the Bol D’Or, where in 1927 they came in 1st and 2nd.
The Depression was looming, and change was again in the air. Bollack and Netter withdrew from BNC. Charles de Ricou, the new head of the firm placed his trust in the sporting reputation of BNC, and entered a 1500cc Meadows-powered car in the 1929 Le Mans 24 hour race. De Rocou tried out a new style of pneumatic suspension which was fitted to a BNC subsidiary AER – in conjunction with a 2 litre engine or an American 4¼ litre engine. The suspension was unreliable. And was later changed to a Delaunay Belleville conventional system.
He also acquired the small firm of Lombard which made competition models, and badged them as BNC.
BNC were successful for a time in competition, notably in the Spa 24 hour race, Brooklands, Chimay and Comminges.
But it was too late, BNC’s reputation was damaged, the public lost confidence, and BNC was on the way out. The firm was liquidated in 1935, when Andre Sirejols, who had driven BNC cars in competition, took it over, and kept the name alive until the 1950s, using Ford 1100cc engines and an adaptation of Simca bodies.
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