ARIES (France) I903 - l938



Ariès began building two and four cylinder cars in a big factory at Asnières (Seine), building 20 chassis at a time. These shaft-drive cars used a curious double rear axle, and the engines were made by Aster.

In 1907, Ariès made a V4 engine with desmodromic valves, as well as six cylinder cars. In 1910 Ariès entered the field of commercial vehicles mainly supplying the French army: during the war, the works built many military lorries, and also Hispano-Suiza aero-engines.

After the war Ariès presented a 7 cv ohc 1085cc four cylinder and a 15cv 3-litre offered in two versions. The first had a sv Aster unit, and the second a sporty ohc engine some of these Ariès with the ohc 3 litre engine were successful in racing events. During the financial crisis of the 1930s Ariès stopped production of the 1100cc and the 3 litre cars, which had become outdated. They were replaced by new 1500cc and 2-litre models with a curious arrangement of a three speed gearbox augmented by two speed gears in the back axle, giving six speeds forward. Very few were made.

At the outbreak of the war production of both touring cars and lorries was suspended. After the war, Ariès briefly made moped engines under the ABG name.

©VEA