The small world of classic cars is in perpetual motion. Once, ‘better than new’ restorations were all the rage. Then, fashion shifted to « oily rags » preserving patina and restored to the bare minimum. More recently, ‘restomods’ became trendy with a simple recipe.
They’re modified classic cars using modern parts (more powerful engine, brakes, chassis, etc.). The most famous examples being certainly Singer’s Porsches or Alfa Romeos from Alfaholics. More recently, classic cars with electric engines were everywhere : Jaguar E-Type, Renault 4, Mini, Twingo… almost every type of car got electrified ! However, a new trend arrived more recently : resurrecting a brand fallen into oblivion, respecting its history while adapting it.
Resurrecting a defunct brand?
That’s exactly what’s happening with Ballot. Edouard and Maurice Ballot started building engines in 1905. Edouard was a marine mechanic. Therefore, his engines were intended for boats… that also explains why there’s an anchor on their logo. Back then, propietary engines were often sold to various car manufacturers and Delage was one of the company’s customers. During the First World War, Ballot engines were used for many purposes. After the war, the brothers had to focus their activities on something else and producing cars was an easy way to do so. They simply did like many aircraft manufacturers such as Voisin or Farman. Ballot started building racing cars for the Indianapolis 500 miles, the Targa Florio or some other famous races in which they were quite successful.
The engine was a 4.9-litre 8-cylinder lump with double overhead camshaft and 4 valves per cylinder, no less. They were a Henry design. A few years earlier, he had already designed quite similar engines for… Peugeot. Ballot introduced its first road car in 1921. It featured a 2-litre engine as well as front axle brakes and foreshadowed what the car would become a few years later. An 8-cylinder 3-litre model was launched in 1927. Unfortunately, the 1929 Wall Street crash hit the company quite badly. Ballot managed to survive until 1931 but was subsequently taken over by Hispano-Suiza and disappeared for good one year later.
A pre-war electric car !
After almost a century, Ballot is coming back. In 2021, the Valdene group decided to revive the brand. The idea was not just to use a name, but… to launch new, pre-war classic cars fitted with electric engines! They are available for sale or hire, and use period- correct designs. A roadster named the ‘Grand Prix’ and a ‘Phaéton’ limousine are available. A third ‘Torpédo Sport’ model is planned. Ballot strongly emphasizes that its cars use old-fashioned designs but that they remain easy to drive, to maintain and to repair. The cinema, communications and theme parks industries are clearly targeted here. Ballot also wants to create a buzz around its cars in order to showcase the craftsmanship involved. Each car is unique and numbered. Customers can add a wide range of bespoke extras to make their own car truly unique. The brand’s own bodyworkshop is named Lavaldène and can design and build any type of bodywork, just like traditional bodyworkshops would have done a century ago.
Grand Prix or Phaéton ? Sports car or saloon, made in true 1920s fashion
The Grand Prix is a two seater using a short wheelbase chassis. From the well-set-back front grille to the pointed rear end and the lack of doors, it’s a true 1920s sports cars. The Phaeton, on the other hand, uses a longer wheelbase chassis and can accommodate four to six passengers. The top can be put it down and a wide range of accessories is available, just like a century ago : extra boots, headlights, etc.
Both use a 12 or 15 kW engine and a 280 Ah lithium-iron-phosphate battery that is more environmentally-friendly and can withstand a higher number of cycles than a Li-ion battery. The whole unit is new and built in France. A 60 or 70 miles range is pretty low and charging takes up to 12 hours, depending on the charger used. However, the electric Ballots are not road legal : they can ony be used on private grounds, unfortunately. Making them complying with all the compulsory car regulations would have cost a fortune on top of taking them far away from the flavor of 100 years old cars’. Assembly takes four to six months and takes place in 19th century buildings located in Vendee : Mouilleron en Pareds is not far from Les Sables d’Olonne. The property also allows for testing on private land. Ballot plans to produce only about twenty numbered cars each year. Prices start from €88,000 without tax for the Grand Prix and €135,000 without tax for the Phaeton. If you can’t or don’t want to buy a car straightaway, they’re available for hire on a weekly or monthly basis too…
Is it a good idea?
Recreating a hundred years old car lookalike using today’s technologies is nothing new. However, reviving a defunct car manufacturer is a different thing. Ballot doesn’t plan a massive production run and remains realistic… these cars cannot be used on open roads and their high retail price ensures just a few privileged and affluent people will buy them. Hiring them is quite clever and perhaps they will soon feature in a prime time telly series or blockbuster film? That would surely help Ballot getting known by a larger audience ! (Text: Dimitri Urbain)
