In 1919 five years after founding the successful flying boat manufacturer Donnet-Denhaut at Neuilly-sur-Seine designer François Denhaut parted ways with co founder Jérôme Donnet who then switched from aircraft manufacturing to become an automobile manufacturer with the acquisition of Automobiles Zedel of Pontarlier, Doubs from whence he marketed the Donnet-Zedel CI-6 a Zedel design originating from 1912.
In August 1924 the production of a chassis for the all new four cylinder 1098 cc / 67 cui Donnet Zedel Type G commenced in a new factory at Gennevilliers, Seine with final assembly of the new model taking place at the former and Donnet flying boat factory on Ile de la Jatte.
The 16 hp (9.5 hp UK taxable) side valve engine featured magneto ignition and a two bearing crankshaft, it drove the rear wheels through a four speed gearbox a foot brake operated on the drive shaft and the hand brake operated the drums on the rear axle.
Manufacturing 20 G types and 15 CI-6 types a day Donnet was on it’s way to becoming Frances fourth largest automobile manufacturer by 1927 when today’s featured G2 was built.
The Donnet G2; with a revised chassis, standard 2 blade engine cooling fan, four wheel drum brakes, relocated hand brake lever, and more substantial rear axle, was launched in May 1926 when Zedel was dropped from the brand name.
Today’s featured G2 scene at last years Classic Run in Chipping Sodbury is believed to have originally been resident near Avignion in France and was not imported into the UK until 1981.
It was rescued from a field in 1989 and after restoration was first registered in the UK 6th Ocotber 1992.
13,400 Donnet G2s are believed to have been built from May 1926 to October 1928 and this example is one of only two G2s and three Donnets known to exist in the UK.
Thanks for joining me on this “Dropping Zedel” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting Castle Combe. Don’t forget to come back now !
