FN-Automobile

The Belgian company Fabrique Nationale d' Armes de Guerre (also Fabrique Nationale Herstal ), better known under the name Fabrique Nationale ( FN), located in Herstal, near Liège ( Liège) was founded in 1889. Besides weapons automobiles and motorcycles used to be made.

In 1900, the first FN automobile was built. It was a so-called Spider, which more resembled a carriage. He had a two-cylinder engine and chain drive to the rear wheels. 1904 followed by a vehicle of 4000 cc four-cylinder engine and 14 hp. In this car, the steering column was already slanted. The next year the guy appeared 30-40 with a luxury body. Customers were already the Belgian royal family and the Shah of Persia.

From the 30-40 type the model 6900, with a Rochet -Schneider manufactured under the license engine was born. This was paired cylinders cast, the drive was a disc clutch and propeller shaft to the rear axle. The vehicle was very comfortable suspension with longitudinal and transverse leaf springs. By 2000 Type an elastic engine suspension was introduced.

Types 2700 and 2700A were the first vehicles with larger engines from own production.

After the First World War the motorcycle and car production was resumed, and in 1920 appeared the type TA 2700, which was equipped with an electric starter, tachometer and an automatic chassis lubrication. The engine consisted largely of aluminum. Other types were the FN - 1950, an improved FN - 1250A, and later the FN - 1250T with full electrical system, four-cylinder engine with 15 hp and three-speed gearbox.

Successor of 1250 was the FN 1300. This vehicle, there were three different versions as A, B and C. Technically, the cars were identical, only the wheelbase and the Amenities different. Was powered by a four-cylinder 1327 cc displacement, lateral camshaft and overhead valves. These cars were equipped with balloon tires and four-wheel brakes. The 1300E models were developed with wider track and the 1300Sp for sporting purposes from the later FN - 1300D with four-speed gearbox, which was very successful.

The type FN -2150 was at that time a midsize vehicle with 1.5 -liter four- cylinder engine and four-speed transmission. The largest vehicle was the FN -3800, which was produced only in small numbers. On the reinforced chassis of the 3800 trucks were built.

1927 presented appeared before the FN - 10CV, which was built three years and from 1930, the anniversary model FN - 11CV was for thirty years of automotive manufacturing. It was a technically very well equipped vehicle with sporty driving characteristics. The sports version was called FN 1400Sp. Also a van on 11CV - base was available. Another vehicle was a prestige car with eight-cylinder in-line engine.

The successor of the 11CV came in 1931 as FN - 11CV in 1625 with a larger engine on the market. Meanwhile FN built 16 different models, which led to economic difficulties. For this reason, only the new types FN -Prince Baudouin and Prince Albert were built from 1930. Both vehicles were equipped with the 11CV engine, but differed in the body.

In 1935, FN introduced only commercial vehicles, among other things, on the 11CV - chassis light commercial vans and on a 2.5 tonne chassis with the eight-cylinder engine larger trucks. A special version of this chassis was delivered to bus manufacturers. Since 1933, FN also built a 1.2 -tonne chassis for the tram buses of the city of Liege. From 1937, the truck was built and delivered in 63C wheel-drive version of the Belgian army.

In 1946 FN production of commercial vehicles with the 6.5 -tonne 64C again, later came the 5.0 -tonner to 62C. This was also built in a military version as 62C 4RM in collaboration with the Belgian commercial vehicle manufacturers Miesse and Brossel. 1955, the commercial vehicle was discontinued. Until the early 1960s still trolleybuses were built. Then FN ended the vehicle.