Delahaye VLR

The Delahaye VLR is an SUV that was developed in 1948 specifically for the French Army to replace the American Willys MB and Ford GPW the.

Description

For those times has the Delahaye VLR ( Vehicle of de Liaison et de Reconnaissance Delahaye, French for joining and reconnaissance vehicle ) on technically challenging design features. Like its model, the Willys MB / Ford GPW, to which he leans visually strong, the body is open, without doors and has a fold-down windshield. However, instead of four, he has five seats. The technical features are, for example, a fully synchronized four-speed transmission with switchable reduction, adjustable torsion bar suspension for each wheel differential locks on both axles, an aluminum engine block with dry sump lubrication and 24 -volt electrics. The French Army of the VLR was mainly used as a connection, command and radio vehicle.

History

The VLR 1949 presented by the French automobile manufacturer Delahaye for testing purposes and should replace the American Jeep ( Willys MB or Ford GPW ). Between 1949 and 1950, the first prototypes were tested and finally accepted after several design changes in 1951 by the army. The vehicle was given the designation VLRD ( Voiture Legere de Reconnaissance Delahaye - 1951er model ).

However, the above described, technically complex solutions presented in the practice out to be problematic. Since the force the complicated technology could not wait enough, it came to frequent failures. There were accidents that were mostly of poorly trained drivers who were overwhelmed with such a high-performance SUV caused.

After several futile attempts to get these problems by further technical changes in the handle ( the 1953 model were, for example, the differential locks and their operation completely redesigned ), rejected the army in 1954, the order additional vehicles from. They opted instead to keep the jeeps from war stocks and to instruct the company Hotchkiss with the production of new vehicles of the M201.

This step brought Delahaye in great financial difficulties and eventually resulted in the same year the merger with Société Hotchkiss Hotchkiss - Delahaye, which in turn meant the end of Delahaye as an automobile manufacturer.

Overall, only 9623 Delahaye SUVs were manufactured, most of the military VLRD, but also some as a civilian 12 - volt version, the VLRC - 12th This civilian version proved to be significantly too expensive to be successful against the still existing masse cheap war jeeps.

Specifications

• Car model
• French Military Vehicle
• SUVs
• Kubelwagen