1937 Chenard et Walcker Z1 Spéciale “Tank” #40
Pilots: G. Contet, C. Roux
Team: Yves Giraud-Cabantous
Race: DNF (2.0 class) at Le Mans in 1937
Spark - S8105 (resin)
Published 05/16/25
Chenard, Walcker et Compagnie (C&W), founded by Ernest Chenard and Henri Walcker, started operating in 1899. Their first product was a quadricycle, yet in 1900 they released their first car, the Type A. Powered by a 1160 cm³ two-cylinder engine designed in-house, the Type A was soon followed by the Type B. Business prospered, and by 1910 they were the ninth largest car maker in France. Though with a diverse automobile line, during WW I they began producing Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines. With the war over and life back to normal, they restarted their automobile production line. In 1922, designed by Henri Toutée, C&W released the Type U3 15CV. Powered by a new 3.0 inline-4 SOHC engine, the new car was rated at 66 kW (90 hp). That was the basis for the 1923 Sport version, the car that C&W enrolled in the first Le Mans race.
Piloted by two C&W engineers, the U3 15CV Sport #9 came in first place overall at Le Mans. The following year they went to La Sarthe with a three-car factory team. Two cars finished in fourth and fifth, managing a first place in the S 2.0 class. The manufacturer continued to grow, and by 1925 they were France’s fourth largest car company. Consequently, for the 1925 Le Mans race they came ready to conquer: a four-car factory team! Two of these were “normal” Type U 22CV Sport, a development of the 1923 U3 15CV. However, the other two were special, also designed by Henri Toutée, the Z1 Spéciale Tank. To create the new car, Toutée took inspiration from the Bugatti Type 32 Tank. His creation was in fact a test mule for C&W’s future 1500 Y8 Tank, to be released in 1927.
The Z1 Spéciale had an aerodynamic and avant-garde design, with brakes on all four wheels. As a power plant, C&W used an inline-4 1094 cm³ engine, with the car weighing about 600 kg. The two Tanks, cars #49 and #50, finished respectively in 13th and 10th. They took home the Biennale and Triennale manufacturers’ cups, and #50 won the S1.1 class. As a side note, 1925 was the first edition of Le Mans to have the “Le Mans start”. Despite the booming business (or perhaps because of that?), in 1926 C&W abandoned motorsports. However, that was not the end for the Z1 Spéciale. Twelve years later, Yves Giraud-Cabantous bought both cars. He tweaked the bodies some, and tuned the original 1.1 l engine, adding a supercharger to one of them. Unfortunately though, both cars DNF. Z1 Spéciale #41 lasted 151 laps, while #40 only lasted 32.
Looking at the car, I’m not sure if I would call it dog-ugly or butt-ugly 🤣. I know that the understanding of aerodynamics was pretty crude in the 20s and 30s, but come on… Just look at what Delage could do in 1937. Aesthetics notwithstanding, the Z1 Spéciale is a VERY interesting car. Why? Because you can rightfully call it the first GT prototype to race at La Sarthe! Oh yes, it was a test mule for a future production car, ergo, a prototype 😉. Cool, huh? Moreover, Giraud-Cabantous tried two different body and engine configurations for 1937. Car #40 had a longer hood and a supercharged 1.1 engine, running in the S2.0 class. Conversely, #41 had the original 1925 hood and normal engine, racing in the S1.1 class. In scale, though dog-ugly, it’s beautiful 😂. Spark nailed it*, and makes both #40 and # 41 cars.
PS: The model looks awesome, yet I didn’t find pictures of the real Z1 Spéciale #40 with aero hubcaps…🤔