Editing Unic

{{short description|French manufacturer of cars etc.}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = Unic (société anonyme des automobiles Unic)
| image            = Unic Beaulieu 8578498006.jpg
| image_caption    = Unic Taxicab (1908)
| predecessor      = 
| successor        = 
| foundation       = 1905
| defunct          = 1938 (last automobiles manufactured: continued as a manufacturer of commercial vehicles)<br/>1952 (sold to [[Simca]])
| location_city    = [[Puteaux]], [[France]]
| location_country = 
| locations        = 
| area_served      = 
| key_people       = [[Georges Richard]] (founder)<br/>[[Henri de Rothschild|Baron Henri de Rothschild]] (main investor)
| industry         = 
| products         = Automobiles<br/>commercial vehicles
}}
[[File:Denver transport museum 180.JPG|thumb|Taxicab 1909]]

'''Unic''' was a French manufacturer founded in 1905, and active as an automobile producer until July 1938.<ref name=Automobilia1938/>   After this the company continued to produce commercial vehicles, retaining its independence for a further fourteen years before being purchased in 1952 by [[Henri Pigozzi]], who was keen to develop Unic as a commercial vehicle arm of the then flourishing [[Simca]] business.

==Origins==
Unic was founded by [[Georges Richard]] after he left [[Richard-Brasier]].  In 1905 Richard had a meeting with the entrepreneur-financier [[Henri de Rothschild|Baron Henri de Rothschild]] and obtained funding for the creation of the "'''société anonyme des automobiles Unic'''", based at [[Puteaux]].<ref name="Gazoline n°185">''[http://www.gazoline.net/ Gazoline] n°185'', décembre 2011.</ref>  The objective was to manufacture "unique" (rather than mainstream) vehicles, and at the start the company made only light cars and taxis with two-cylinder and four-cylinder engines.

The taxi business would remain important to Unic for more than three decades, while Rothschild's steady financial support through good times and bad, provided stability which sustained the business, critically during the immediate post-[[Second World War|war]] years.

==Growth and diversification==
Although the manufacturer's initial range was restricted to light cars, their popularity as taxis led to the production of delivery vans and other small utility style vehicles.<ref name="gazoline.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazoline.net/category/essais/|title=Essais Archives|access-date=Dec 14, 2019}}</ref>    The 1943&nbsp;cc 12 [[Horsepower#CV and cv|CV]] (9&nbsp;kW) four-cylinder model (used mainly as a [[Taxicab|taxi]]) was extremely successful and survived in production for nearly 20 years.  (The engine was enlarged later to 2120&nbsp;cc.)  During [[World War I]], taxis made by the company participated in the [[First Battle of the Marne|Marne]] operation.  After World War I, a new four-cylinder (1847&nbsp;cc) was offered, along with the taxis.

==First truck and founder's death==
In 1922 the firm introduced a three-ton truck, called the Unic MSC, which marked the start of a switch towards production of larger commercial vehicles.   1922 was also the year when the founder of Unic, Georges Richard, died while awaiting transfer to a Paris clinic, following a motor accident en route to [[Rouen]].<ref name="gazoline.net"/>   Georges Dubois, hitherto in charge of vehicle testing, took on responsibility for the business.

==Passenger cars in the 1920s==
During the 1920s, a 1997 cc sports model was marketed and in some models [[sleeve valve]] engines were used.

By the time of the [[Paris Motor Show|19th Paris Motor Show]], in October 1924, Unic were exhibiting three passenger cars.<ref name=Automobilia1925>{{cite journal| title =Automobilia| journal = Toutes les voitures françaises 1925 (Salon 1924)| volume = 72s| pages = 80|year = 2005|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref>   All had four cylinder engines, although large 4-cylinder engines such as that fitted in the 16HP model were by now seen as rather old fashioned:
* Unic "Type L1T" 10 CV/HP: 4-cylinder 1843 cc: wheelbase {{convert|3050|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
* Unic "Type L3T" 11 CV/HP: 4-cylinder 2000 cc: wheelbase {{convert|3050|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
* Unic 16 CV/HP: 4-cylinder 3450 cc: wheelbase {{convert|3450|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

Four years later, at the [[Paris Motor Show|22nd Paris Motor Show]], only one of the two cars on show was fitted with a 4-cylinder engine.  This was an evolution of the two-litre model exhibited in 1924, now branded as the Unic "Type L9", with a {{convert|3150|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wheelbase and usually fitted with  [[Torpedo (car)|"Torpedo"]] or "Berline" (saloon/sedan)  bodies.   However, for the 1929 model year attention was now focused on the company's first 8-cylinder model.   The new Unic 14 CV/HP "Type H1" featured a {{frac|2|1|2}}-litre straight-8 power unit and sat on a substantial {{convert|3460|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wheelbase.   It was priced at 55,000 francs in bare chassis form.<ref name=Automobilia1929>{{cite journal| title =Automobilia| journal = Toutes les voitures françaises 1929 (Salon 1928)| volume = 84s| pages = 80|year = 2006|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref>

==Passenger cars in the 1930s==
[[File:Autocar excursion UNIC 1937 (14) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Tour bus UNIC 1937 L20]]
The 8-cylinder Unic "Type H1" introduced in 1928 was progressively updated in accordance with the changing tastes of the time:  by 1933 car had evolved into the Unic "Type H3" and the engine size had grown from {{frac|2|1|2}} litres to 2646&nbsp;cc.<ref name=Automobilia1934/>   October 1933 was nevertheless the last time an 8-cylinder passenger car would appear on the Unic [[Paris Motor Show|show]] stand.<ref name=Automobilia1934>{{cite journal| title =Automobilia| journal = Toutes les voitures françaises 1934 (Salon 1933)| volume = 22| pages = 77|year = 2002|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref>

For the next few years the company focused on 4-cylinder cars in the 11 CV/HP tax band, just as they had through the mid-1920s.<ref name=Automobilia1934/>   For 1934 Unic announced their new "Type U4" model, featuring a 2-litre side-valve engine and now also employing a 4-speed transmission.<ref name=Automobilia1934/>   The body-work of the standard 5-seater "berline" (sedan/saloon) was no longer completely flat-backed, but the proportions of the car may have drawn criticism, since between the car's October 1933 launch and May 1934, the rear overhang was slightly increased, while at the front a slightly raked grill replaced the flat one, and the overall profile became a little more streamlined.<ref name=Automobilia1934/>   In addition to this passenger car, Unic continued to produce through 1934 a similarly sized taxi of "great robustness".<ref name=Automobilia1934/>

==Final year of car production==
In March 1937 Unic updated their four-cylinder passenger car model for the last time, and for the [[Paris Motor Show|1937 October Motor Show]] the six-cylinder model was also given a more streamlined look, in line with the fashion of the time.   By this time the passenger car range was down to just these two models.  The Unic Type U4D was a four-cylinder 2,150 (12CV) car which featured overhead valves and offered a maximum output of {{Convert|55|hp|abbr=on}}, supported by a robust, rather traditional chassis with a {{convert|3160|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wheelbase.    The imposing six-cylinder Unic Type U6C provided {{convert|85|hp|abbr=on}} from a 3,000&nbsp;cc engine (17CV), transmitted via an [[Preselector gearbox#Cotal|electromagnetic "Cotal" preselector]] gear box, with a choice of wheelbase lengths between {{convert|3200|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} and {{convert|3370|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Automobilia1938>{{cite journal| title =Automobilia| journal = Toutes les voitures françaises 1938 (Salon 1937)| volume = 6| pages = 92–93|year = 1998|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref>

The appeal of Unic passenger cars by this time derived not from technical brilliance nor from stunning originality.   Those who appreciated the cars were impressed by excellent reliability resulting from a meticulous approach taken during the production process.  Also admired were their elegant spacious bodies, most of which came from the coach builder [[Letourneur et Marchand]] or from their subsidiary, Autobineau.   Unic cars by now were not being sold in large numbers and this was reflected in the price.   At the 1937 [[Paris Motor Show|Motor Show]] the standard steel-bodied Unic Type U-4 D with its 12CV engine was priced at 53,750 francs (or 35,500 francs in bare chassis form).<ref name=Automobilia1938/>   The slightly more powerful 13CV [[Talbot Type T4 "Minor"]] was listed at 42,500 Francs (or 35,000 Francs in bare chassis form),<ref name=Automobilia193801>{{cite journal| title =Automobilia| journal = Toutes les voitures françaises 1938 (Salon 1937)| volume = 6| pages = 89|year = 1998|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref> while from the top end of the Citroën range a long wheel base "familiale" version of the [[Citroën Traction Avant|Traction 11CV Longue]] could be had for 28,900 francs including the body, while prototype testing was already well under way of a 2867&nbsp;cc (15/16CV) version of the aggressively priced and marketed Citroën Traction.<ref name=Automobilia193802>{{cite journal| title =Automobilia| journal = Toutes les voitures françaises 1938 (Salon 1937)| volume = 6| pages = 26|year = 1998|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref>  Few customers in this class  were willing to pay the price for the Unic's virtues of dependability, style and space, and Unic passenger car production ceased in July 1938.<ref name=Automobilia1938/>

After 1938 Unic concentrated in the truck business, being one of the leading French makes. In 1966 it was taken over by the Italian company [[Fiat]] and eventually merged into [[Iveco]] in 1975.
<gallery caption="Passenger cars" align="center">
1909 UNIC 12hp 1800cc, 60kmh photo1-1.JPG|1909
Unic 1916.JPG|1916
Unic Spoert 1924.jpg|1924
Unic L61 (1926), Dutch licence registration DH-10-94 pic.JPG|1926

</gallery>
<gallery caption="Trucks" align="center">
File:Unic années 40 - 4.JPG
File:Unic-Kegresse P107 halftrack Moscow, Poklonnaya Hill 2.JPG | A Unic-[[Kegresse]] [[P107]] halftrack that was captured and used by the Wehrmacht,  displayed in the [[Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Moscow]], [[Poklonnaya Hill]] Victory Park
File:Unic-Kegresse P107 halftrack Moscow, Poklonnaya Hill 3.JPG | Tracks of a Unic-[[Kegresse]] [[P107]] halftrack that was captured and used by the Wehrmacht,  displayed in the [[Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Moscow]], [[Poklonnaya Hill]] Victory Park
File:Unic P107 , Musée des Blindés, France, pic-1.JPG| A Unic-[[Kegresse]] [[P107]] at the [[Musée des Blindés]], France.

</gallery>

== Post–World War II timeline ==

In 1952, the firm was taken over by [[Simca]], headed by [[Henri Pigozzi]], who wanted a commercial vehicle production unit. Trucks of this period are commonly referred to as Unic-Simca trucks. In 1956 the French arm of the Swiss truck manufacturer [[Saurer]] was taken over.

In 1966 Unic joined [[Fiat]]. In 1975 a holding company named [[Iveco]] was established covering truck and bus brands such as Fiat, [[Officine Meccaniche|OM]], [[Lancia]], UNIC and [[Magirus]].

In 1976 Unic-Fiat S.A. became UNIC S.A. In 1992 Iveco Unic S.A. changed its name to Iveco France S.A.

In 2003, the company's headquarters moved from [[Villejuif]] to [[Boissy St Léger]], where a second facility was established in 1995.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|UNIC vehicles}}
* http://perso.wanadoo.fr/vis/historique.htm
* [http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=239 Unic taxicab 1912, undergoing service at The London General Cab Company, Camberwell. 1950s video]{{dead link|date=December 2017}}
*[http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/2104182/83052658.jpg 1906 Unic taxi](ebaumsworld)

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Car manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Iveco]]
[[Category:Truck manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Defunct truck manufacturers]]
[[Category:French brands]]