The French marque based in Gennevilliers won the inaugural 24 Hours with its Type U3S Sport, only a dozen of which were produced. The 2,978 cc 4-cylinder in-line engine with overhead camshaft and dual ignition developed 90 hp, was mated to a 4-speed gearbox and equipped with a Solex carburetor and four-wheel brakes.

The first 24 Hours proved to be a real triumph for the marque with a winning one-two finish and the world distance record on the ground in 24 hours: 2,209 km at a commercial speed of 92 kph, the distance to reach Saint Petersburg, Athens or Istanbul.

But, the marque overwhelmed itself and failed to repeat the victory despite sophisticated mechanics (8-cylinder 4-litre engines) and coveted aerodynamics. The originality of the "small" Chenards compensated for the defeat of the "big" ones with the appearance of the first real prototypes seen at the 24 Hours.

1925 | A "tank" for Chenard & Walcker

With a body style designed for aerodynamics, the tanks drew looks with their hoods covered with "louves" to allow cooling and their windscreens replaced with mesh. The engineer Toutée was content with a 4-cylinder 1,100 cc engine sufficient to win two biennial cups in 1924 and 1925.

One of two tanks, a Robert Sénéchal, veered off the track due to fog at Arnage in 1925. Under the unbelieving eyes of race director Charles Faroux, the car plowed through several meters of fencing and thankfully came to a stop in the sand. The successful maneuver earned the driver a medal for resourcefulness. Both tanks made it to the chequered flag that year, in 10th and 13th places respectively for Raymond Glaszmann/Manso de Zuniga and Albéric Loqueheux/Robert Sénéchal.

The two tanks were fielded again in 1937, one driven by world weightlifting champion Charles Rigoulot (nicknamed the strongest man in the world) able to tow a train with his teeth or prevent a plane from taking off. Both cars were entered by Yves Giraud-Cabantous. In addition to 10 participations in the 24 Hours from 1931 to 1951, he was on the second row of the starting grid at the very first Formula 1 Grand Prix on 13 May 1950 at Silverstone. The resilience (a 12-year old model by then!) of the "little" Chenard & Walcker was unable to triumph again.

PHOTOS (Copyright - ACO Archives): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. From top to bottom: the Chenard & Walckers driven in 1924 by René Léonard/André Lagache (#3), winner of the first 24 Hours the previous year, and Raymond Glaszmann/René Sénéchal (#37); the "tank" of Albéric Loqueheux/Robert Sénéchal (#49), 13th in 1925.