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{{copyedit|date=January 2024}}
{{Short description|Defunct French automobile and manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Sinpar
|logo =
|type =
|foundation = 1907, 1946
|defunct = 1980
|fate = takenTaken over by [[Renault]] in 1980
|founder = [[Léon Demeester]]
|location = [[Courbevoie]], France
|industry = [[Automotive = automobilesindustry|Automotive]]
|products = [[Off-road vehicle|Off-road]] and [[sports carscar]]s
}}
'''Sinpar''' was a French [[Car|automobile]] company which was originally founded in 1907 and then restarted in 1946 by Léon Demeester.<ref name="la4ldesylvie">{{cite web|url=https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=354|title=Renault 4 Sinpar 4x4|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221217085931/https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=354 | archive-date=2022-12-17 | language=fr | work = La4LdeSylvie.fr | first = Johan | last = Contier }}</ref> The company which existed before [[World War I]] built [[voiturette]]s, while the post-war iteration specialized in off-road vehicles.
'''Sinpar''' was a French automobile company which was founded in 1946 by Léon Demeester.{{cn}}
[[File:Racing R4.jpg|thumb|right|[[Four-wheel drive]] [[Renault 4]] Sinpar from the 1980 [[Paris-Dakar Rally]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dakar.com/2011/DAK/presentation/docs/historique-dakar-1979-2009_us.pdf |title=Dakar Retrospective 1979-2009 |work=Dakar.com |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614234211/http://www.dakar.com/2011/DAK/presentation/docs/historique-dakar-1979-2009_us.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2013 }}</ref> ]]▼
 
▲[[File:Racing R4.jpg|thumb|right|[[Four-wheel drive]] [[Renault 4]] Sinpar from the 1980 [[Paris-Dakar Rally]]<ref name="PDretro">{{cite web |url=http://www.dakar.com/2011/DAK/presentation/docs/historique-dakar-1979-2009_us.pdf |title=Dakar Retrospective 1979-2009 |work=Dakar.com |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614234211/http://www.dakar.com/2011/DAK/presentation/docs/historique-dakar-1979-2009_us.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2013 }}</ref> ]]
==Origin of name==
The '''Sinpar''' was originally [[France|French]] [[automobile]] manufactured from 1907 until 1914. The company built [[de Dion-Bouton|De Dion]]-[[engine]]d [[voiturette]]s in [[Courbevoie]]; cars used either 4½ hp or 8&nbsp;hp power units. An 8&nbsp;hp four produced from 1912 until 1914 was identical with the 8&nbsp;hp [[Demeester]].{{cn}}▼
 
==Pre-war==
The name "Sinpar" was meant to suggest that the car was "without equal" (''"sans pareil"'').{{cn}}
▲The '''Sinpar''' was originally [[France|a French]] [[automobile]] manufactured from 1907 until 1914. The company built [[de Dion-Bouton|De Dion]]-[[engine]]dengined [[voiturette]]s in [[Courbevoie]]; cars used either 4½&nbsp;[[Tax hphorsepower#France|CV]] or 8&nbsp;hpCV power units. An 8&nbsp;hpCV four produced from 1912 until 1914 was identical with the 8&nbsp;hpCV [[Demeester]].<ref name="Burgess">{{cncite book| first1= David Burgess |last1= Wise |first2= Lance |last2= Cole |title= The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles |page= 480 |date= 2000 |edition= 2004 |publisher= Quantum Books Ltd. |location= London |isbn= 978-0862882587}}</ref>
 
The name "Sinpar" was derived from the Latin {{lang|la|sine par}}, meaning "without equal".<ref name="Berliet">{{cite web|title= Sinpar: l'as de la transformation |trans-title= Sinpar: the ace of transformation|url= https://www.fondationberliet.org/ressources-documentaires/archive-article-dossier-camion-berliet/sinpar-castor-renault-transformation/|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221214184931/https://www.fondationberliet.org/ressources-documentaires/archive-article-dossier-camion-berliet/sinpar-castor-renault-transformation/ |archive-date= 2022-12-14 |language= fr |work= Fondation de l'Automobile Marius Berliet}}</ref>
 
==Interwar==
Between the wars, the Sinpar shops engaged in extending and reinforcing truck chassis, mostly Fords and Citroëns. They also sold other kits and parts such as upgraded [[axle]]s, reduction, and overdrive gear kits.<ref name="Berliet"/>
 
==After 1946==
TheAfter companyoperations seemedceased to have disappeared for good following the outbreak of theduring [[First World War II]], but more than three decades later Léon Demeester, who had established the business back in 1907, resurrected it once again in 1946 along with his son Pierre. '''Sinpar''' nowthen engaged in winch manufacture and heavy-duty transmission sub-assemblies for four- and six-wheel drive trucks. In the fifties, Sinpar expanded into manufacturing oil field trucks. In the 1960s, Sinpar also sold around 150 four-wheel drive trucks under its own brand. Called the '''Sinpar Castor''', they used the cabin and many other parts from the [[Renault Estafette]].<ref name="Berliet"/> These specialist items were provided to a range of industrial companies in France until 1975 when [[Saviem]] took over the company's activities.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
 
Another source refers to ''Sinpar Appareils S.A.'' in [[Colombes]], using the Sinpar make for cars from 1964 to approx 1974.<ref>{{cite book |first= Marián |last= Šuman-Hreblay |title= Automobile Manufacturers Worldwide Registry |publisher= McFarland & Company |location= London |date= 2000 |isbn= 0-7864-0972-X |page= 263}}</ref> In the {{lang|de|Eidgenössische Typenpruefungskommission}} from Switzerland it was listed as {{lang|de|Appareils Sinpar}} from Colombes in 1973.<ref>{{citation |url=https://files.admin.ch/astra_ffr/mofis/Datenlieferungs-Kunden/opendata/2000-Typengenehmigungen_TG_TARGA/2400-pdf-Scans_TG_bis_1985/2420-deutsch/067633.pdf| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221217085923/https://files.admin.ch/astra_ffr/mofis/Datenlieferungs-Kunden/opendata/2000-Typengenehmigungen_TG_TARGA/2400-pdf-Scans_TG_bis_1985/2420-deutsch/067633.pdf | archive-date = 2022-12-17 | title=Renault 6 TL - R1181 Sinpar 4x4 | work = Eidgenössische Typenprüfungskommission für Motorfahrzeuge|language=de | location = Bern, Switzerland | date = 1973-01-23}}</ref>
In Autumn 1962 "Sinpar" launched an all-terrain light vehicle based on the [[Renault 4]], and after Sinpar itself ceased its activities [[Renault]] created a subsidiary of its own, based at [[Chassieu]] which produced the modified all-terrain Renault 4 based vehicles. The new business was still called "Sinpar", but now "Sinpar" was an acronym which stood for "Société Industrielle de Production et d'Adaptations Rhodanienne".{{cn}}▼
 
In autumn 1962, Sinpar launched an all-terrain derivative of the [[Renault 4]]. Initially fitted with a three-speed transmission (with the Renault 3's shorter gearing), it was only available with the larger, 845&nbsp;cc [[Renault Billancourt engine#800|800-01]] engine. An extra short first gear was also offered, for even better climbing abilities. The cost of the conversion was nearly two thirds the price of a new Renault 4, limiting sales mainly to institutional users.<ref name="la4ldesylvie"/>
During the later 1960s the business increasingly focused on four-wheel drive conversions for various Renault models, notably the [[Renault 1 000 kg|Renault Goélette]] (the vans mostly being destined for service with the French army) along with the Renault 4, [[Renault Rodeo|Renault Rodéo]], [[Renault 6]] and the [[Renault 12]]. Although most of the cars were sold in France, useful volumes were also achieved in the more mountainous regions of [[Switzerland]] where, until the arrival in Europe of the [[Subaru Leone|Subaru]], there was significant customer demand for reasonably priced four wheel drive cars which the larger auto-makers were disinclined to address.{{cn}}▼
 
▲During the later 1960s, the business increasingly focused on four-wheel drive conversions for various Renault models, notably the [[Renault 1 000 kg|Renault Goélette]] (the vans mostly being destined for service with the French army) along with the Renault 4, [[Renault Rodeo|Renault Rodéo]], [[Renault 6]] and the [[Renault 12]]. Although most of the cars were sold in France, useful volumes were also achieved in the more mountainous regions of [[Switzerland]] where, there was significant customer demand for reasonably priced four-wheel drive cars which auto-makers were disinclined to address until the arrivalEuropean in Europearrival of the [[Subaru Leone|Subaru]].{{cn|date=December 2022}} A Sinpar-prepared Renault 4 finished third in the [[1980 Paris–Dakar Rally]],<ref therename="PDretro"/> wasafter significanthaving customerfinished demandfifth forthe reasonablyyear pricedbefore. fourA wheelSinpar driveRenault cars12 whichbreak with a Gordini-prepped engine finished third in the largerRallye autoCôte-makersCôte were(from disinclinedthe Côte d'Ivoire to addressthe Côte d'Azur).{{cn}}<ref name="la4ldesylvie"/> Two Renault 12 Sinpar 1800 took part in next year's Rallye Côte-Côte as well, finishing first and eleventh.<ref name="la4ldesylvie"/> Sinpar also manufactured the beach car version of the Renault 4, the "Plein Air."
Together with the company's German agent, Rau GmbH of [[Stuttgart]], Sinpar also helped develop a four-wheel-drive version of the [[Ford Transit]] in 1982.<ref name="inufa82">{{citation | ref = INK82 | title = Internationaler Nutzfahrzeug-Katalog (Inufa) 1982 | trans-title = International Commercial Vehicle Catalog | language = German | volume = 24 | location = Solothurn, Switzerland | publisher = Vogt-Schild AG | date = 1982 | pages = 262–265 | editor-first = Hans U. | editor-last = Rohrbach }}</ref> Reflecting the companies involved, it was called the SIRA-Ford Transit.▼
 
In the 1960s and 1970s, Sinpar also showed some of their own chassis. In 1962, they showed an all-wheel-drive chassis with fully independent, [[torsion bar suspension]], fitted with the Ford 6D engine from the [[Thames Trader]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=International Flavour at Paris Salon | date = 12 October 1962 | magazine = [[Commercial Motor]] | url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-october-1962/58/international-fli-r-at-paris-salon | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240727001427/https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-october-1962/58/international-fli-r-at-paris-salon | archive-date = 2024-07-27 | page = 58 | first = John P. | last = Moon | number = 2982 | volume = 116 }}</ref> In 1968 Sinpar designed the ''Torpedo S'', a jeep-style car with body by [[Brissonneau and Lotz]] which did not enter production.<ref>{{cite book|author=George Nick Georgano|title=The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile|volume= 3: P–Z|publisher= Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers|year= 2001|ISBN=1-57958-293-1|pages=1464}}</ref> In the early 1970s, Sinpar expanded by taking over Carrosserie Rotrou's plant in [[Verneuil-sur-Avre]].<ref name=JMilieu61>{{citation | title = Hotchkiss, petit dictionnaire du "juste milieu" | date = October 15, 1994 | first = Daniel | last = Tard | publisher = Editions Charles Massin | location = Paris | isbn = 978-2707202499 | ref = DT94 | page = 61 }}</ref>
 
▲Together with the company's German agent, Rau GmbH of [[Stuttgart]], Sinpar also helped develop a four-wheel-drive version of the [[Ford Transit]] in 1982.<ref name="inufa82">{{citationcite book | ref = INK82 | title = Internationaler Nutzfahrzeug-Katalog (Inufa) 1982 | trans-title = International Commercial Vehicle Catalog | language = German | volume = 24 | location = Solothurn, Switzerland | publisher = Vogt-Schild AG | date = 1982 | pages = 262–265 | editor-first = Hans U. | editor-last = Rohrbach }}</ref> Reflecting the companies involved, it was called the SIRA-Ford Transit.
 
▲InSubsequent Autumnto 1962the "Sinpar"1976 launcheddeath anof all-terrainPierre light vehicle based onDemeester, the [[Renaultcompany's 4]],future andwas afteruncertain. SinparIn itself1980, ceased its activities [[Renault]] createdV.I. atook subsidiaryover ofthe itscompany own,which basedcontinued atto [[Chassieu]] which producedproduce the modified all-terrain Renault-based 4vehicles basedat vehicles[[Chassieu]]. The new, Renault-owned business was still called "Sinpar", but now "Sinpar" was anturned acronyminto a [[backronym]] which stood for {{lang|fr|"Société Industrielle de Production et d'Adaptations Rhodanienne".{{cn}} instead.<ref name="Berliet"/>
 
In 1998, the company was fully subsumed into [[Renault Trucks|Renault V.I.]] and the Sinpar name was retired.<ref name="4Ladd">{{cite web |url= https://www.r4-4l.com/tous-les-modeles-de-4l/la-societe-sinpar/ |title= La société Sinpar |language= fr |work= L'Univers de la 4L|access-date=2024-01-23}}</ref>
 
==References==
* David Burgess Wise, ''The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles''.
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France]]
 
 
{{brass-auto-stub}}
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