Remarkable 1922 French Grand Prix Racer
Superbly restored Ballot 2LS racer with very advanced 4 cylinder engine with Double Overhead Cams, 4 valves per cylinder and Hemispherical Heads. Produced by the Ballot brothers, Edouard and Ernest Maurice with engine design by the incomparable Swiss genius, Ernest Henry.
The Ballot brothers founded their company in Paris in 1905. Édouard Ballot was a former naval officer, which explains the "anchor" that featured on the badges on the cars. Before World War I the factory concentrated on marine and industrial engines, and from 1910 or 1911 they were also offering high quality automobile engines. They helped Ettore Bugatti in developing his first engines. They were known for meticulous cutting edge quality, and during the war, had assembled Hispano Suiza aero engines.
In December 1918. he had a significant conversation with René Thomas, a leading racing driver who had won the 1914 Indianapolis 500 race driving a Delage. Ballot was persuaded to build four 4.8-litre cars that would carry the "Ballot" name and compete in the forthcoming Indianapolis 500 race, scheduled for 30 May 1919. Time seemed very short, but Ballot lost no time, notably recruiting the Swiss born engineer Ernest Henry who had already worked on preparing Peugeot cars for their successful participation in the Indianapolis 500 race, winning outright in 1913 and 1916. Ballot's cars competed in the 1919 race, two of them finishing in 4th and 11th places with the win again going to the Henry prepared Peugeot. Ballot was sufficiently encouraged to return the next year, and in the 1920 Indianapolis 500 race a Ballot driven by René Thomas finished in second place:
As well as racing engines, the company made a range of road engines which were fitted to their own production cars.
The first of Ballot's own road cars was the 1921 2-litre Ballot 2-litre sports tourer. In 1923 the Ballot 2 LT and a sport version, Ballot 2 LTS followed.
By the time of the 19th Paris Motor Show in October 1924, Ballot was established in the market place as a producer of expensive road going cars with spectacular performance, and the exquisite 2 liter (to fit into some Grand Prix races) engine became the basis for racing engines for the next 50 years. Harry Miller bought one and took it apart, copying freely yielding 12 Miller engined winners at Indianapolis, and his associate, Fred Offenhauser continued the 4 cylinder double overhead cam Hemi designs into the 70s, winning 26 Indys and countless other races.
Malcolm Campbell of 'Bluebird' landspeed record fame drove one and the Italian-American champion, Ralph DePalma drove for the factory.
Like all high-end expensive cars, the Great Depression was fatal, and in 1930, Ballot was absorbed by Hispano Suiza......a gentle demise for certain.....or what a way to go......
Double click on the image to enlarge for details.
AS ALWAYS....COMMENTS & INVITATIONS with AWARD BANNERS will be respectfully DELETED!
Remarkable 1922 French Grand Prix Racer
Superbly restored Ballot 2LS racer with very advanced 4 cylinder engine with Double Overhead Cams, 4 valves per cylinder and Hemispherical Heads. Produced by the Ballot brothers, Edouard and Ernest Maurice with engine design by the incomparable Swiss genius, Ernest Henry.
The Ballot brothers founded their company in Paris in 1905. Édouard Ballot was a former naval officer, which explains the "anchor" that featured on the badges on the cars. Before World War I the factory concentrated on marine and industrial engines, and from 1910 or 1911 they were also offering high quality automobile engines. They helped Ettore Bugatti in developing his first engines. They were known for meticulous cutting edge quality, and during the war, had assembled Hispano Suiza aero engines.
In December 1918. he had a significant conversation with René Thomas, a leading racing driver who had won the 1914 Indianapolis 500 race driving a Delage. Ballot was persuaded to build four 4.8-litre cars that would carry the "Ballot" name and compete in the forthcoming Indianapolis 500 race, scheduled for 30 May 1919. Time seemed very short, but Ballot lost no time, notably recruiting the Swiss born engineer Ernest Henry who had already worked on preparing Peugeot cars for their successful participation in the Indianapolis 500 race, winning outright in 1913 and 1916. Ballot's cars competed in the 1919 race, two of them finishing in 4th and 11th places with the win again going to the Henry prepared Peugeot. Ballot was sufficiently encouraged to return the next year, and in the 1920 Indianapolis 500 race a Ballot driven by René Thomas finished in second place:
As well as racing engines, the company made a range of road engines which were fitted to their own production cars.
The first of Ballot's own road cars was the 1921 2-litre Ballot 2-litre sports tourer. In 1923 the Ballot 2 LT and a sport version, Ballot 2 LTS followed.
By the time of the 19th Paris Motor Show in October 1924, Ballot was established in the market place as a producer of expensive road going cars with spectacular performance, and the exquisite 2 liter (to fit into some Grand Prix races) engine became the basis for racing engines for the next 50 years. Harry Miller bought one and took it apart, copying freely yielding 12 Miller engined winners at Indianapolis, and his associate, Fred Offenhauser continued the 4 cylinder double overhead cam Hemi designs into the 70s, winning 26 Indys and countless other races.
Malcolm Campbell of 'Bluebird' landspeed record fame drove one and the Italian-American champion, Ralph DePalma drove for the factory.
Like all high-end expensive cars, the Great Depression was fatal, and in 1930, Ballot was absorbed by Hispano Suiza......a gentle demise for certain.....or what a way to go......
Double click on the image to enlarge for details.
AS ALWAYS....COMMENTS & INVITATIONS with AWARD BANNERS will be respectfully DELETED!