J. A. Gregoire


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Posted by clueless [201.197.163.150] on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 15:34:39 :

In Reply to: Rzeppa 6-ball CV joint posted by Grant in CO [64.234.252.6] on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 12:17:32 :

Jean Albert Gregoire (1898-1992)
Jean Albert Gregoire was a Humanist, a man of many disciplines. He graduated from the Polytechnique, a famous French school, and was a Doctor of Law Gregoire published many books on automobile history and engineering, and also wrote mysteries and fiction. He was an Oenologue and a Mucicologue (an expert in wines and mushrooms).

In 1926, with his partner Pierre Fenaille, Gregoire invented a constant velocity joint (CV joint) under the name of Tracta. This Tracta CV joint was very strong and easy to manufacture.

Up until this time, front wheel drive cars were mostly prototypes usually built in small series mainly for racing: Christie, Gregory and Miller of the United States; Alvis and Bucciali in Europe.

Gregoire and Fenaille began producing a car under the name of Gephy and soon the Tracta. With four or six cylinders, these were race cars, sport cars, coupes or limousines which could be driven either on the race track or on the road. From 1927 to 1934, Tractas with small Scap four cylinder engines raced at Le Mans, winning their category. Number 27 was driven by Valon and Gregoire himself in 1929 and 1930.

But Gregoire was losing money and, after manufacturing only 200 to 300 cars, halted production. He then specialized in engineering and consulting, selling his patents to many companies. Both DKW in 1931 and Adler in 1933 bought Tracta licenses for their first front wheel drive cars. Imperia in Belgium and Rosengart in France manufactured the Adler under the licenses using the Tracta CV joints.

During the second World War, most of the countries used Tracta CV joints: all British vehicles, U.S. Jeeps made by Ford and Dodge command cars. Russia and Germany also used the Tracta CV joints, but without the licensing.

Jean Albert Gregoire promoted the front wheel drive automobile his entire life.





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