The Ariès was a French automobile manufactured by La Société des Automobile Ariès in Asnières-sur-Seine. The firm was founded in 1902 by Baron . The decision to end production was taken in 1937.[1] Around 20,000 vehicles were produced in total.[2]
The first cars were two- and four-cylinder vehicles built 20 chassis at a time in a large factory. These shaft-drive cars had a rather unusual double rear axle, while the engines were built by Aster.
In 1907 the company made its own narrow-angle V4 engine. The engine had a single cast iron monobloc on a light alloy crankcase. This contained four cylinders in a square layout with a narrow 15° vee angle.[2] Bore and stroke were 60 by 100mm, giving a capacity of 1.13 litres.[2] It was rated at 8/10 fiscal horsepower. The crankshaft was short with disc webs, two main bearings and fork-and-blade connecting rods. Crankpins and main journals were held in the webs by tapers and a shallow nut, giving the effect of an undercut crankshaft. This made the engine extremely compact overall, 12.2inch long, 11.3inch wide and 22.4inch tall.[2] The intention was to offer this compact engine as a replacement that would fit into a wide range of other vehicles. The crankshaft was drilled for a pressure oil feed to the crankpins, an advanced feature for this time, but the pistons and gudgeon pins were still lubricated by splash.
In 1910 Ariès introduced a V6 engine on the same pattern for the 10/14 hp S6.Ariès entered the field of commercial vehicle production in 1910, mainly for the purpose of supplying the French army; the works built mainly military trucks during World War I, as well as Hispano-Suiza aero engines.
After the war the company presented three new models; one was a four-cylinder, a 7 cv OHC 1085 cc, while the other two were variations on a 15cv 3-litre.[3] One had a sidevalve Aster unit, while the second featured a sporty OHC engine; some of these last were quite successful in racing events.
Ariès had some motor-racing success in the 1920s, particularly with associated, although without success, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and with more success in other touring car events.[4] Their most successful drivers wore Robert Laly and Jean Chassagne, driving the 3 litre cars.[4]
Ariès stopped production of its 1100 cc and 3-liter cars, which had become obsolete, during the financial crisis of the 1930s. They were replaced in the catalogue with new 1500 cc and 2-liter models with an odd arrangement of a three-speed gearbox augmented by two-speed gears in the back axle, for a total of six speeds forward. Named the Super 10-50, few were made.
After the war, Ariès attempted a comeback, briefly producing moped engines under the name ABG.