This 1935 George Irat - opens in new window or tab. roadster now for sale on eBay epitomizes the combination of ingenuity and design at the heart of truly great automobiles. One of the rare cars produced prior to the start of World War II, the model—technically, the MDS 6 CV—was one of the most agile and technologically advanced vehicles of its time.
The powertrain consisting of a two-liter Ruby engine and three-speed manual gearbox mounted to the front wheels made the car extremely light: about 1,455 pounds. A four-wheel independent suspension included coil springs up front and articulated levers with leaf springs in the rear. Later models came with four-wheel suspensions consisting of less expensive rubber rings.
Although the listing shows a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph), that’s probably an overestimate. Other sources list top speed for the 1935 model at 100 kph or just over 60 miles per hour. A slightly larger engine in the 1937 cars raised the top speed closer to 75 mph.
The car ran on a 12-volt electrical system: unusual at a time when six-volt systems were common, and had a pressure lubrication system. The four-cylinder engine came with one or two Solex carburetors. The transmission was a single dry clutch design.
Turning radius was 14.1 feet—quite good for an early front-wheel drive vehicle.
The sports cars George Irat unveiled in 1935 came as a surprise for two reasons: first, they were a radical departure from earlier luxury sedans equipped with American Lycoming six and eight-cylinder engines - opens in new window or tab. and second, the company managed to survive several years of dismal sales.
George Irat made a name for himself in the 1920s when he teamed up with Maurice Gaultier, former head of the engine department at Delage - opens in new window or tab. and produced a series of highly competitive race cars. Competition specials built on a shortened chassis competed at the 24 Hours of LeMans - opens in new window or tab., Cappe Douarino, Paris-to-Nice, Mont Ventoux and 24 Hours of Belgium. Two-liter four-cylinder engines reached at top speed of 87 miles per hour as early as 1923.
In 1924, the company decided to diversify, introducing several six-cylinder engine cars before turning to Lycoming engines in the early 1930s. All were commercial failures, due in part to the Great Depression that hit France in 1931.
In 1934 Godefroy et Levoque, makers of the Ruby engine purchased part of the company and moved its factory to Levallois. The coming produced sports car with both Ruby four-cylinder and Lycoming six-cylinder engines, but the larger engine cars found few takers.
Towards the end of the 1930s, George Irat introduced several new models with Citroen running gear, the last of which, the OLF came with hydraulic brakes. Only 200 of the cars were produced before the company ceased production in 1943 when World War II made supplies for building civilian cars almost impossible to find.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.