Premium

Le Zèbre 1909-1931 - More economical than a horse

Name: Le Zèbre Typ A 1909
Brand: Le Zèbre

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created in 2015

Text:

Roger Gloor

Photos:

Archiv Automobil Revue

Bruno von Rotz

Oldtimer-Galerie Toffen

Archiv Automobil Revue

Bruno von Rotz

Oldtimer-Galerie Toffen

Le Zèbre Type A from 1909, (1 cyl., 602 cm3, 4 hp)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Le Zèbre A (1910) - the Voiturette should reach or exceed the estimated price of 34,000 to 38,000 francs at the auction of the classic car gallery at the end of April

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Le Zèbre Type A (1911) - developed by the famous car designer Jules Salomon, who later joined Citroën - the Rotonde two-seater cost 2900 francs at the time (Retro Classics Bavaria 2017 in Nuremberg)

You have only

2 out of 3

images seen in high resolution

Summary

There were around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of them have disappeared. The Le Zèbre brand is one of them. From the very beginning, the aim of the brand was to develop a vehicle that was also affordable for the masses. J. Salomon designed this vehicle in his spare time and after numerous positive reactions, the Zebra brand was founded. However, competition was fierce and the brand finally went under in 1931.

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Animals as car brand names were mostly fast and sleek big cats: Jaguar became the best known, but there was also Panther and Puma and even Lion-Peugeot in the early days. The eagle and other birds were also symbolic of automotive characteristics, but the creators of the Zebra brand were interested in a rock-solid voiturette that was affordable for the wider public. Designed by engineer Jules Salomon, the Le Zèbre weighed only 350 kg and offered a payload of 160 kg. "More economical than a horse", it was suitable for the craftsman or for a Sunday drive for two. J. Salomon got his start in car construction under Georges Richard at Unic in Puteaux (Paris). He built his Voiturette, financed by the composer's son Jacques Bizet, in his spare time. The small single-cylinder two-seater was very well received and led to the founding of a company. With a price of 2800 francs, the 272 cm short and 120 cm narrow Le Zèbre Type A was by far the cheapest fully-fledged automobile.

Welcome to Zwischengas!