1914 Rolland Pilain RP
Rolland-Pilain was a French car maker formally established on 4 November 1905 at 95, rue Victor-Hugo in Tours by Francois Rolland and Emile Pilain.
Rolland was already a successful businessman locally who had made a fortune in the wine business. Emile Pilain had a more technical background, having been trained by his uncle, Francois Pilain, who had relocated to Lyon and himself established an automobile manufacturing business called SAP (Societe des Automobiles Pilain). Emile, the nephew, had remained in the Tours area, however.
The partners started by repairing and selling motor vehicle, before they started producing their own cars, which appeared only in 1907. In 1911 the business relocated to 44, place Rabelais, still in Tours, and the company became a Societe anonyme (effectively a limited liability company). The company would retain this status until the money ran out, in 1925.
The Rolland-Pilain cars pioneered many innovative solutions despite very limited financial resources. One such feature was hydraulic brakes. The models ranged from family cars to sports and luxury cars. One of them was RP model.
Rolland was already a successful businessman locally who had made a fortune in the wine business. Emile Pilain had a more technical background, having been trained by his uncle, Francois Pilain, who had relocated to Lyon and himself established an automobile manufacturing business called SAP (Societe des Automobiles Pilain). Emile, the nephew, had remained in the Tours area, however.
The partners started by repairing and selling motor vehicle, before they started producing their own cars, which appeared only in 1907. In 1911 the business relocated to 44, place Rabelais, still in Tours, and the company became a Societe anonyme (effectively a limited liability company). The company would retain this status until the money ran out, in 1925.
The Rolland-Pilain cars pioneered many innovative solutions despite very limited financial resources. One such feature was hydraulic brakes. The models ranged from family cars to sports and luxury cars. One of them was RP model.
