Vehicle Description
Georges Irat was a little-known French manufacturer of touring and
sports cars that first appeared in 1921, and disappeared in 1953,
remaining the whole time in relative obscurity.� Automobile
production began in 1921 with a fast touring car powered by a
1,991cc four cylinder engine. The engine was designed by Maurice
Gaultier, an ex-Delage engineer and was certainly the highlight of
the package. It was a somewhat conventional machine, though it did
boast four-wheel servo-assisted brakes by Dewandre. The whole car
was produced in-house with the exception of the bodywork. Gaultier
returned to Delage in 1928 which coincided with the release of the
Irat three-liter six cylinder model. Output was slow but steady at
approximately 200 cars per year when Georges Irat decided he would
source engines from America. A series of 8-cylinder
Lycoming-powered models were produced though very few found buyers.
It wasn't until Georges Irat was on the brink of financial disaster
that, in 1935 his fortune turned around when he was approached by a
new engine supplier to highlight their products. As it happened,
engine manufacturer Godefroy et Levecque needed a new customer for
their "Ruby" 1100 cc engine, as most of their client base of small
manufacturers had gone under. The deal came with some financial
support and Irat fitted the engine into a new sporty front-drive
roadster. The 6CV roadster was the firm's most successful endeavor
to date. The 1100cc Ruby engine produced 37 horsepower, and was
mated to a 3-speed manual transmission that drove the front wheels
in a layout very much like that of a miniaturized Cord L-29 - the
engine and gearbox inline but turned 180 degrees from standard. The
styling was tidy and attractive, with earlier examples sporting
cycle fenders (later versions had a full-fender look) and dash of
"Gaelic Morgan" to the looks. The 6CV found favor with buyers for
its sporty nature and good looks. About 1500 examples were built
between 1935 and 1939 before Irat rolled out a replacement powered
by a Citroen 11CV engine, however this model was far less
successful and only about 200 units were produced. By the post-war
period Georges Irat abandoned sports cars and experimented with an
off-road vehicle called the VDB, which found few buyers. By 1953 he
had bowed out of the automobile business for good. Our featured
Georges Irat 6CV is a delightful example from this rare and unusual
marque. It wears an older restoration very well, presented in very
attractive French blue over black trim. The paint quality is very
good, and while it shows a few flaws here and there it remains
attractive and very presentable. Bright exterior trim is limited to
the large flat radiator shell, head and fog lamps, polished stone
guards and bright body beading. The bumperless style with cycle
fenders and mudguards give the Georges Irat a purposeful stance,
particularly in the way it rides low on stamped steel wheels. The
French market yellow headlamp and foglamp bulbs are a particularly
nice touch, especially against the blue paintwork - invoking a bit
of Delage or Talbot-Lago flair. The highlight of the cockpit is
undoubtedly the gear lever that sprouts curiously from the center
of the dash, much like an L-29 or a 2CV. The gear lever operates a
long horizontal connecting rod mounted atop a traditional shift
lever on the gearbox. While it certainly takes some getting used
to, the shift is quite satisfying to master. The original
speedometer is a lovely piece with three supplemental gauges built
in, chronograph style. A trio of auxiliary instruments faces the
driver, perhaps added at a later date, as with the non-standard
turned alloy dash and four-spoke wheel, both of which impart a
decidedly sporting character. The seats are trimmed in black
upholstery to a good standard and the floors lined with black
carpet. A lack of a central hump allows for respectable leg room. A
top and full tonneau cover is included. The 1100 cc Ruby
four-cylinder is tidy and well-presented. It is healthy and runs
well, reportedly subjected to a refresh in the hands of the
previous owner. Detailing is tidy with an emphasis toward reliable
running. The original Georges Irat identification plate remains
intact on the firewall. This fascinating little roadster is one of
just a small handful of survivors from this seldom-seen marque. The
handsome style, interesting mechanical layout and compelling marque
history make it a great piece for fans of esoteric and unusual
automobiles.