1914 Le Zèbre
Built near Paris, the Le Zèbre first appeared in 1909 as a 600cc, singlecylinder voiturette, although an 8hp, four-cylinder model was added to the range in 1912, soon followed by a 10/12hp, their first four-seater; this 8hp dates from 1914. After the Armistice, the two engineers responsible for the Le Zèbre went on to greater things. Joseph Lamy designed the Amilcar, while Jules Salomon was responsible for the little 5cv Citroen.
1914 Pilain
Francois Pilain of Lyon was the uncle of Emile, the ‘Pilain’ half of Rolland-Pilain, and had started in the motor industry as early as 1890, when he worked for Serpollet in Paris, building steam cars. He founded the Societe des Automobiles Pilain in 1902, building a series of vehicles which were noted for their advanced engineering. This 2-litre Pilain was built in 1914. Francois had by now quarrelled with his backers and set up another company, to make front-wheel-drive cars.
1914 Sigma
Built in Levallois-Perret, France. between 1913 and 1928. the Sigma was a typical light car of its day. assembled from proprietary parts like Malicet et Blin chassis and Ballot engines. Post-war models also used the CIME engine. and there was an ephemeral twin-cylinder Sigma. This Ballot-engined example dates from 1914.
1914 Stellight
Like Wolseley, the Electric and Ordnance Accessories Company of Birmingham were a subsidiary of Vickers, and specialised in the manufacture of axles, hubs and roller bearings before adding car manufacture to their repertoire in 1913. Costing £157 10s in twoseater form, their Wolseley-designed Stellite light car used an 1100cc fourcylinder monobloc engine in an armoured-wood chassis,’ with a twospeed transmission.
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