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{{Short description|French automobile engineer}}
{{distinguish|André Lefèvre (disambiguation){{!}}André Lefèvre}}
{{about||the Roman Catholic bishop|André Lefebvre (bishop)|people with a similar name|André Lefèvre (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}


'''André Lefebvre''' (19 August 1894 – 4 May 1964) was a French automobile engineer.
'''André Lefèbvre''' (19 August 1894 – 4 May 1964) was a French automobile engineer.


André René Lefebvre was born in Louvres, France (North of Paris, Val d'Oise). He began his career as an [[aviation]] engineer working for [[Voisin]], then later for [[Renault]] and [[Citroën]]. He was also a racing driver and race car designer, and won the 1927 [[Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo|Rallye Monte Carlo]].
André René Lefèbvre was born in [[Louvres, Val-d'Oise|Louvres]], France (North of Paris, [[Val-d'Oise|Val d'Oise]]). He began his career as an [[aviation]] engineer working for [[Voisin (aircraft)|Voisin]], then later for [[Renault]] and [[Citroën]]. He was also a racing driver and racing car designer.


After completing studies at [[École nationale supérieure de l'aéronautique et de l'espace|Supaéro]] he began to work for [[Gabriel Voisin]] in March, 1916.<ref>Gijsbert-Paul Berk, ''Andre Lefebvre and the Cars He Created at Voisin and Citroen'', Veloce Publishing Ltd, 2009</ref> Voisin placed Lefebvre in charge of his Laboratoire where he worked on aviation projects until the end of World War I, and then automobiles.<ref>{{Cite journal
After studying at [[École nationale supérieure de l'aéronautique et de l'espace|Supaéro]], he began to work for [[Gabriel Voisin]] in March 1916.<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Gijsbert-Paul
| first = Berk
| title = Andre Lefebvre and the Cars He Created at Voisin and Citroën
| year = 2009
| publisher = Veloce Publishing Ltd
| location = Dorchester
| isbn = 978-1-845842-44-4
}}</ref> Voisin placed Lefebvre in charge of his Laboratoire where he worked, until the end of World War I, on aviation projects and then automobiles.<ref>{{Cite journal
| first = Griffith
| first = Griffith
| last = Borgeson
| last = Borgeson
| author-link =
| author =
| author2 =
⚫
| date =
| year = 1975
| year = 1975
| publisher = Automobile Quarterly, Inc.
| publisher = Automobile Quarterly, Inc.
| title = Gabriel Voisin Archetype of Constructors
| title = Gabriel Voisin Archetype of Constructors
| quote =
| journal = Automobile Quarterly
| journal = Automobile Quarterly
| volume = 13
| volume = 13
| issue = 4
| issue = 4
| pages = 342–357
| pages = 342–357
⚫
}}</ref> He is particularly noted for creating the Voisin C6 Laboratoire, which was a racing car prepared for the 1923 French Grand Prix.<ref>{{cite web
| doi =
| url = http://revivaler.com/1923-voisin-c6-laboratoire/
| id =
| title = Voisin C6 'Laboratoire'
| url =
| format =
| last = Banovsky
| first = Michael
⚫
| date = 13 August 2014
| access-date = 2016-12-18
| access-date = 2016-12-18
}}</ref>
⚫
}}</ref> He is particularly noted for creating the Voisin Laboratorie of 1922, which was a race car prepared for the Grand Prix of France.[[Image:FoS20162016 0625 093400AA (27867850866).jpg|left|thumb|Voisin Laboratorie]]
[[Image:FoS20162016 0625 093400AA (27867850866).jpg|left|thumb|Voisin C6 Laboratoire]]


When Voisin ran into business problems in 1931, Lefebvre was recommend to [[Louis Renault (industrialist)|Louis Renault]]. Renault was persuaded to recruit Lefèbvre by [[François Lehideux]], himself a senior executive within the company (who was also married to the daughter of Renault's brother).
When Voisin ran into business problems in 1931, Lefèbvre was recommended to [[Louis Renault (industrialist)|Louis Renault]]. Renault was persuaded to recruit Lefèbvre by [[François Lehideux]], himself a senior executive within the company (who was also married to the daughter of Renault's brother).


Lefebvre remained with Renault only until 1933, when he was hired by [[André Citroën]] to work on the Traction Avant project.<ref>{{Cite book
Lefèbvre remained with Renault only until 1933, when he was hired by [[André Citroën]] to work on the Traction Avant project.<ref>{{Cite book
| last = Reynolds
| last = Reynolds
| first = John
| first = John
| author-link =
| author =
| author2 =
| editor =
| others =
| title = André Citroën; The Man and the Motor Cars
| title = André Citroën; The Man and the Motor Cars
| orig-year = 1996
| year = 1996
| url =
| format =
| access-date = December 18, 2016
| edition =
| date =
| year =
| publisher = Sutton
| publisher = Sutton
| location = Trowbridge
| location = Trowbridge
| language =
| pages = 173–174
⚫
}}</ref> After the death of André Citroën in 1935, Lefèbvre continued his work at Citroën, now led by the innovative entrepreneur [[Pierre-Jules Boulanger]], who came to the company from [[Michelin]].
| isbn =
| pages = 173-174
| chapter =
| chapter-url =
| quote =
⚫
}}</ref> After the death of André Citroën in 1935, Lefèbvre continued his work at Citroën, now led by the innovative entrepreneur [[Pierre-Jules Boulanger]], who came to the company from [[Michelin]].
[[Image:Citroen ds G.Bruno.jpg|right|thumb|Citroën DS]]
[[Image:Citroen ds G.Bruno.jpg|right|thumb|Citroën DS]]
Working with [[Citroën]] designers [[Flaminio Bertoni]] and [[Paul Magès]], Lefèbvre created four of the most dramatic, boldly designed vehicles of 20th century:
Working with [[Citroën]] designers [[Flaminio Bertoni]] and [[Paul Magès]], Lefèbvre created four of the most dramatic, boldly designed vehicles of 20th century:
*[[Citroën Traction Avant]] (1934-1957) – a large family sedan, a favourite of gangsters, the [[French resistance]] and the [[Gestapo]], built for 23 years
*[[Citroën Traction Avant]] (1934–1957) – a large family sedan, a favourite of gangsters, the [[French resistance]] and the [[Gestapo]], built for 23 years
*[[Citroën 2CV]] (1948-1990) – a small, advanced, utilitarian sedan, known as "the duck" or "Tin Snail", built for 42 years
*[[Citroën 2CV]] (1948–1990) – a small, advanced, utility sedan, known as "the duck" or "Tin Snail", built for 42 years
*[[Citroën DS]] (1955-1975) – a radically advanced, large family sedan, seen as shark like, built for 20 years
*[[Citroën DS]] (1955–1975) – a radically advanced, large family sedan, seen as shark like, built for 20 years
*[[Citroën HY]] (1947-1981) – a corrugated, practical delivery van, built for 34 years
*[[Citroën HY]] (1947–1981) – in corrugated steel sheet, practical delivery van, built for 34 years


The 1955 Citroën DS placed third in the 1999 [[Car of the Century]] competition, behind the [[Ford Model T]] and BMC [[Mini]].
The 1955 Citroën DS placed third in the 1999 [[Car of the Century]] competition, behind the [[Ford Model T]] and BMC [[Mini]].


Lefèbvre died of hemiplegia on May 4, 1964.
Lefèbvre died of hemiplegia on 4 May 1964.


==References==
==Sources and further reading==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


Latest revision as of 19:50, 4 April 2023

For the Roman Catholic bishop, see André Lefebvre (bishop). For people with a similar name, see André Lefèvre (disambiguation).

André Lefèbvre (19 August 1894 – 4 May 1964) was a French automobile engineer.

André René Lefèbvre was born in Louvres, France (North of Paris, Val d'Oise). He began his career as an aviation engineer working for Voisin, then later for Renault and Citroën. He was also a racing driver and racing car designer.

After studying at Supaéro, he began to work for Gabriel Voisin in March 1916.[1] Voisin placed Lefebvre in charge of his Laboratoire where he worked, until the end of World War I, on aviation projects and then automobiles.[2] He is particularly noted for creating the Voisin C6 Laboratoire, which was a racing car prepared for the 1923 French Grand Prix.[3]

Voisin C6 Laboratoire

When Voisin ran into business problems in 1931, Lefèbvre was recommended to Louis Renault. Renault was persuaded to recruit Lefèbvre by François Lehideux, himself a senior executive within the company (who was also married to the daughter of Renault's brother).

Lefèbvre remained with Renault only until 1933, when he was hired by André Citroën to work on the Traction Avant project.[4] After the death of André Citroën in 1935, Lefèbvre continued his work at Citroën, now led by the innovative entrepreneur Pierre-Jules Boulanger, who came to the company from Michelin.

Citroën DS

Working with Citroën designers Flaminio Bertoni and Paul Magès, Lefèbvre created four of the most dramatic, boldly designed vehicles of 20th century:

  • Citroën Traction Avant (1934–1957) – a large family sedan, a favourite of gangsters, the French resistance and the Gestapo, built for 23 years
  • Citroën 2CV (1948–1990) – a small, advanced, utility sedan, known as "the duck" or "Tin Snail", built for 42 years
  • Citroën DS (1955–1975) – a radically advanced, large family sedan, seen as shark like, built for 20 years
  • Citroën HY (1947–1981) – in corrugated steel sheet, practical delivery van, built for 34 years

The 1955 Citroën DS placed third in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, behind the Ford Model T and BMC Mini.

Lefèbvre died of hemiplegia on 4 May 1964.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gijsbert-Paul, Berk (2009). Andre Lefebvre and the Cars He Created at Voisin and Citroën. Dorchester: Veloce Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-845842-44-4.
  2. ^ Borgeson, Griffith (1975). "Gabriel Voisin Archetype of Constructors". Automobile Quarterly. 13 (4). Automobile Quarterly, Inc.: 342–357.
  3. ^ Banovsky, Michael (13 August 2014). "Voisin C6 'Laboratoire'". Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  4. ^ Reynolds, John (1996). André Citroën; The Man and the Motor Cars. Trowbridge: Sutton. pp. 173–174.
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