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Seltene Gobron-Brillié-Rennfotografien: Ein Wagen oder zwei?
Die Marke Gobron-Brillié lässt uns nicht los. Obwohl sie heute kaum noch bekannt ist, handelte es sich um einen außergewöhnlich faszinierenden Hersteller. Nach unserem früheren Artikel über den besonderen Motor erhielten wir von dem Motorradjournalisten Wim Oude Weernink diese großartigen Fotografien eines Gobron-Brillié in Rennausführung. Die Qualität der Aufnahmen übertrifft alles, was wir bislang von solchen Rennwagen gesehen haben, doch leider ist nur wenig darüber bekannt. Und so stehen wir erneut vor einem klassischen Monday Mystery.
Zunächst waren wir von dem geradezu faszinierend brachialen Motor so beeindruckt, dass wir kaum weiter hinsahen und einfach davon ausgingen, denselben Wagen in unterschiedlichen Erscheinungsformen vor uns zu haben. Bei genauerer Betrachtung fiel uns jedoch etwas auf. Die Kennzeichen scheinen unterschiedlich zu sein: Auf einem Foto lesen wir 595-EE, auf dem anderen möglicherweise 594-EE.
Fahrgestell und Motor scheinen weitgehend identisch zu sein, doch damit könnten die Gemeinsamkeiten bereits enden. Zudem wurden die Fotografien eindeutig an verschiedenen Orten aufgenommen. Das Straßenfoto zeigt einen Wagen, der möglicherweise gerade eine neue Karosserie und einen neuen Kühler erhalten hat, während die andere Aufnahme offenbar bei einer Rennveranstaltung oder einem Automobiltreffen entstand. Neben dem Wagen steht ein Offizieller mit den Buchstaben A.C.P. auf seiner Armbinde. Wofür stand diese Abkürzung? Vielleicht für Automobile Club de Paris?
Vielleicht kann einer unserer Leser mehr über die Fahrzeuge, den Aufnahmeort oder die abgebildeten Personen berichten. Sehen wir hier zwei verschiedene Gobron-Brillié, oder handelt es sich um ein und denselben Wagen in unterschiedlichen Phasen seines Lebens? Nun sind Sie an der Reihe ...
Text: Laurens Klein, Fotos: Wim Oude Weernink
Publiziert:
Montag Juni 29th, 2026
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Kommentare
Ariejan Bos
01 Juli, 12:02
From the original photo it becomes clear, that Alexander Burton’s car carried the number 594-EE, making it a sister car of Rigolly’s 595-EE. Both numbers were issued in june 1903. A number for the third racer is unknown, I have no photos with visible registration of this car in my archive.
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Ariejan Bos
01 Juli, 10:26
The cars on the photos are indeed two different cars, and besides photographed at two different events. The car with the license plate starting with 594 (unfortunately the last part is unreadable) was the Gobron-Brillié of Alexander Burton in the French eliminating trials for the 1904 Gordon Bennett race. The other car, with 595-EE, shows Rigolly’s car for the French Grand Prix of 1906.
The story of this impressive model started in 1903 with the week of Nice in april, where the Rigolly showed this new racer (see the Luc Ryckaert picture in his first post). It ended in 1907 with Rigolly being the only participant for Gobron-Brillié in the French Grand Prix. In between it participated in numerous events: hill climbs, speed events and record attempts in which it was often successful. In the great races the results were disappointing. In the 1903 Paris-Madrid race Rigolly ended highest at place 29, the other two (Duray and Koechlin) ended on place 64 and 75 respectively. In the 1904 eliminating trials for the Gordon Bennett there were three participants (Rigolly, Burton and Duray), but none of these made it to the finish. During the 1905 eliminating trials for the Gordon Bennett race only one Gobron-Brillié participated (Rigolly). He finished at 8th place, which was not sufficient for the main race. During both the 1906 and 1907 French Grand Prix Rigolly was the only participant for Gobron-Brillié and in both cases he failed to finish. The conclusion must be that this iconic car was unreliable but very fast. It broke the land speed record many times between 17 july 1903 and 21 july 1904, first at the hands of Duray, later at the hands of Rigolly passing eventually the 100 miles barrier at 103.56 miles an hour (166.66 km/hr).
Weiter lesen
The story of this impressive model started in 1903 with the week of Nice in april, where the Rigolly showed this new racer (see the Luc Ryckaert picture in his first post). It ended in 1907 with Rigolly being the only participant for Gobron-Brillié in the French Grand Prix. In between it participated in numerous events: hill climbs, speed events and record attempts in which it was often successful. In the great races the results were disappointing. In the 1903 Paris-Madrid race Rigolly ended highest at place 29, the other two (Duray and Koechlin) ended on place 64 and 75 respectively. In the 1904 eliminating trials for the Gordon Bennett there were three participants (Rigolly, Burton and Duray), but none of these made it to the finish. During the 1905 eliminating trials for the Gordon Bennett race only one Gobron-Brillié participated (Rigolly). He finished at 8th place, which was not sufficient for the main race. During both the 1906 and 1907 French Grand Prix Rigolly was the only participant for Gobron-Brillié and in both cases he failed to finish. The conclusion must be that this iconic car was unreliable but very fast. It broke the land speed record many times between 17 july 1903 and 21 july 1904, first at the hands of Duray, later at the hands of Rigolly passing eventually the 100 miles barrier at 103.56 miles an hour (166.66 km/hr).
LUC RYCKAERT
30 Juni, 18:55
In the meantime, I found some more information in La France Automobile from 1903. Apparently, there were not 2 but 3 Gobron Brillié 100 hp cars in 1903, and these participated in the legendary Paris-Madrid race with Koechlin, Rigolly, and Duray as drivers. Later that year, Rigolly and Duray set the fastest times in the Ostend Flying Kilometer and the Course de Cote de Gaillon. The photo shows Rigolly, record holder in Ostend with a time of 26 seconds, averaging 134 km/h.
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francois melcion
29 Juni, 15:43
It is not ACP but ACF Automobile Club de France which is the oldest Automobile Club in the world.
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Peter Maguire
29 Juni, 15:39
Two different cars !
Numerous detail differences which can be discerned from the photographs.
For instance, the 'dumb irons on car '595' follow the line of the bottom tubular chassis member. Those on car 594 do not and are angled to sit horizontally. The front wheel hubs on '595' are also of a different pattern. Then there are the front springs (attachment to dumb irons, construction - front clamp!). I also suspect that the way in which the chain drive sprockets are attached may be different, but this is not easy as the photos are from different angles. So, could be wrong there. The steering wheel also appears to be different (larger, thicker rim!). Possible different rake to the column.
...............Forget the radiator.!!
Weiter lesen
Numerous detail differences which can be discerned from the photographs.
For instance, the 'dumb irons on car '595' follow the line of the bottom tubular chassis member. Those on car 594 do not and are angled to sit horizontally. The front wheel hubs on '595' are also of a different pattern. Then there are the front springs (attachment to dumb irons, construction - front clamp!). I also suspect that the way in which the chain drive sprockets are attached may be different, but this is not easy as the photos are from different angles. So, could be wrong there. The steering wheel also appears to be different (larger, thicker rim!). Possible different rake to the column.
...............Forget the radiator.!!
fred veenschoten
29 Juni, 14:38
Here is a drawing of the engine and how it works. Thanks to Wikipedia.
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LUC RYCKAERT
29 Juni, 09:44
Hello,
In "La France Automobile" of April 18, 1903, I found a description of the 100 Chevaux Gobron-Brillié as depicted in one of the photos. Apparently, this was a very special engine with 4 cylinders and 8 pistons. The article explains " This engine is perfectly balanced by the arrangement of the pistons, which are paired and move in opposite directions when the explosion occurs in the space between them. As a result, the vehicle has no vibration." Enclosed are 2 pictures of the engine and another with Rigolly at the steering wheel.
Kind regards,
Luc Ryckaert
Weiter lesen
In "La France Automobile" of April 18, 1903, I found a description of the 100 Chevaux Gobron-Brillié as depicted in one of the photos. Apparently, this was a very special engine with 4 cylinders and 8 pistons. The article explains " This engine is perfectly balanced by the arrangement of the pistons, which are paired and move in opposite directions when the explosion occurs in the space between them. As a result, the vehicle has no vibration." Enclosed are 2 pictures of the engine and another with Rigolly at the steering wheel.
Kind regards,
Luc Ryckaert