Industry Automotive Headquarters France Ceased operations 1921 | Defunct 1921 Founded 1919 | |
Simplex is an automobile manufacturer that existed briefly, in France, between 1919 and 1921.
The name Simplex was used during the early years of the twentieth century by a number of automobile manufacturers including one each in the Netherlands and England, and by (at least) two auto-makers in North America. The French Simplex company was not connected with these.
The car
Simplex took a stand at the Paris Motor Show in October 1919 and exhibited a light “voiturette” style car featuring a single cylinder horizontal motor of 735cc. The motor was balanced by an imaginatively configured longitudinal counter-weight which was intended to limit engine vibrations.
The wheelbase was a relatively modest 2,300 mm (90.6 in). Front brakes were included.
The car’s “Bull-nose” style radiator is reminiscent of the pre-war Morris Oxford.