Chappe et Gassalin, Les Artisans Constructeurs

by Michel Delannoy

ISBN 2 914920 33 4

Published by Editions du Palmier

€30

Editions du Palmier continues to champion the many French minnows, this being among its most engaging works. The narrative – no English translation, sadly – tackles CG (say-jay) from its roots in coachbuilding through its pioneering work in glassfibre to its role as subcontractors to most of the French low-volume manufacturers, in particular Alpine and DB. Where it really gets interesting is in the firm’s move to car manufacture.

Though virtually unheard of outside France, these little Simca-based sportscars were successful in rallying and on the circuits, when driven by Fiorentino, Ragnotti and, occasionally, Larrousse. Lay-out is bland and there’s a paucity of colour but, otherwise, it’s engaging. See www.editions-palmier.fr. RH