Autobleu Simca
Although Autobleu was not formally established until 1950, a cycle fendered racing Special called the Autobleu Simca dates back to 1948. This car was built on a Simca 8 Type HS racing chassis, and bodied by Carrosserie Autobleu. The Autobleu Simca appeared in the 1949 Bol d'Or automobile. Driven by Just-Emile Vernet, it won the 1100 cc class, and placed third overall. After appearing in several races during 1949 and 1950, the car was sold to l'AGACI, who used it in their racing school based at Monthlèry.
The car was rediscovered at Monthlèry in 1966 by Jacques Potherat and Bernard Pigelet, and sold shortly after to Jacques Picard. The car saw light road use, and then was displayed in Picard's showroom for over thirty years. It was sold again in 2000, then underwent a restoration that lasted until 2005.
Autobleu Renault 4CV
In May 1953 Autobleu unveiled a custom bodied 4CV-based luxury coupé. The car was the result of a trip to Cannes by Mestivier and Lepeytre in August 1952. While there the two attended a concours délégance and noticed a Lancia with a body design done by Luigi Sègre and Felice Mario Boano of Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin. The four met at the 1952 Salon de l'Auto, where Mestivier and Lepeytre laid out their desire to build a stylish car based on 4CV mechanicals. Ghia delivered a prototype in May 1953. Renault's management was sufficiently impressed to offer Autobleu access to its sales channels. Two examples were on display at the 1953 Salon.
Autobleu's 4CV coupé was built on the 4CV's steel chassis, with aluminium bodywork. It had the same 2,100 mm (82.7 in) wheelbase as the 4CV but, at 3,750 mm (147.6 in), was approximately 90 mm (3.5 in) longer. It also inherited the rear-mounted, water-cooled 747 cc (45.6 cu in) Renault Billancourt engine from the 4CV, and its 3-speed manual transaxle. In the coupé, power output was 25 hp (19 kW), boosted in part by an Autobleu inlet manifold and a Solex carburettor. In later cars the 747 cc engine was replaced by the 845 cc (51.6 cu in) unit from the Dauphine. The emphasis was on style and elegance rather than on ultimate performance. A maximum speed of 115 km/h (71 mph) was claimed.
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The Autobleu 4CV's body incorporated several futuristic styling cues, including prominent air inlets ahead of the rear wheel arches that were larger than those on the 4CV. Renault adopted a similar set of inlets for their Renault Dauphine model launched in 1956.
The Autobleu coupé went into production towards the end of 1953. To create the tooling to produce the bodies, Mestivier and Lepeytre approached a friend named Francis Guérin, who was also a coachbuilder, for help. Guérin proposed building the tooling using a synthetic resin called rezolin. The results were poor, and production lagged. A series of carrosserie took turns building bodies for the car, including Figoni et Falaschi, and Carrosserie Pourtout. Finally, in 1956, Henri Chapron became the supplier of the coupé's body. Chapron developed a convertible version of the car the same year. Figoni repurposed a surplus rear end from an Autobleu coupé into a different car called the Simca 9 Sport Figoni
Total production of the Autobleu Renault 4CV is usually estimated to have been 80 cars.
Autobleu Renault Frégate
The company commissioned a single copy of a larger model based on the chassis of the Renault Frégate. This car was also styled by Boano, now working in his own carrozzeria. The engine in this prototype was tuned by Abarth, and was mated to a 4-speed transmission. The Autobleu Renault Frégate debuted at the 1955 Turin Auto Show.
Autobleu Peugeot 204 GT
Peugeot launched their hardtop 204 model in 1965, and a cabriolet version in 1967. Advertising executive and automotive enthusiast Pierre Thiriot convinced Lepeytre to create a custom version of the car. Autobleu bought some of the earliest cabriolets in February 1967, and supplied them to the carrozzeria run by Pietro Frua to provide the basis of a new fastback coupé. Apart from the new roofline, the car was visibly distinguished from the factory model by the quad headlamps in front.
The 1,130 cc (69.0 cu in) XK engine was tuned by Moteur Moderne. It received a 40 mm Weber carburetor, custom exhaust, and new manifolds, raising power to 70 hp (52.2 kW), a 32% increase over the stock engine.
The Autobleu Peugeot 204 GT Frua Coupé debuted at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. Carrying a premium price, and facing strong competition in the market, the Autobleu 204 GT coupé did not go into production.
Karts
Autobleu built a series of racing karts, with single-cylinder engines from Ydral. The Ydral Type H engine, with a horizontal cylinder, was used. Autobleu Karts were built from 1960 to 1963.
