The first sports kit car of French

Weird ONES After discussing unique four-wheeled vehicles some time ago, this time we will also discuss a unique shaped classic French kit car called the Fournier-Marcadier Barquette. Then who made it? As the name suggests, the car or rather the kit car was made by the French duo André Marcadier and Marcel Fournier.

The Fournier-Marcadier 01 Barquetta is a sports kit car made by the French duo André Marcadier and Marcel Fournier ranging of 1963 to 1966. (Picture from: ForumMarcadier)

As quoted from the ClassicCarWeekly page, the story begins with a bicycle maker in Lyon, France named André Marcadier where his bike is recognized for his creativity, quality and lightness of fabrication. In 1956 he diversified his business by designing and building a lightweight go-kart chassis. As the result, his go-kart won the European titles in endurance along with the Verd-Dumont-Janoray team in 1961.

The Fournier-Marcadier 01 Barquetta is powered by a 1.1 liter straight-four engine derived from the Renault 8 Gordini which has been tuned to churn out up to 89 horsepower. (Picture from: ClassicCarWeekly)

He really admired what Colin Chapman was doing with his Lotus in England and wanted something similar to be done in France. No wonder then many people think of André Marcadier as the French Colin Chapman. Because of it, then he plunged into the world's automotive farther and teamed up with Marcel Fournier. In short, of their auto venture then launched the first French kit car called the FM 01 Barquette in 1963.

The Marcadier Barzoï coupé is built ranging of the 1970s as many as 20 units. (Picture from: Marcadier)

The French-made kit car is powered by a 1.1 liter straight-four engine derived from the Renault 8 Gordini which has been tuned to churn out up to 89 horsepower, and the engine is placed behind the driver and passenger. 

The Marcadier Barzoï coupé is built featured with the unique style of gull-wing doors. (Picture from: Marcadier)

In appearance this car can also be said to be the French's kit version of the Lotus 23. For your information, the Lotus 23 is a small capacity race car designed by Colin Chapman and specifically to compete in the FIA ​​Group 4 in 1962–1963.

During the 1980s, Marcadier even had time to launch a futuristic car model called the Marcadier Barzoï 2. (Picture from: MegaNeccForum)

This Fournier-Marcadier Barquette elegant, lightweight, innovative and competitively efficient kit car is well-loved among limited budget racing enthusiasts, and it have been built of 60 units up to 1966. Unfortunately, in the 1970s marked a turning point, with Fournier's departure forcing André Marcadier to work alone to produce cars including the brand's legendary model, the Marcadier Barzoï coupé with gull-wing doors.

The Marcadier Barzoï 2 is built on the a Simca 1000 Rallye chassis and powered by an 80 horsepower straight-four engine of 1.3-liters. (Picture from: MegaNeccForum)

There are 16 models (approximately 150 units) made in Mions' workshop during its production period until the 1980s (whether was along with Fournier or Mercadier himself) ranging of the Barquettes, Barzoï coupés, single-seater racing cars of the Formula Renault "Can-Am" and even an F2 racing odds.

André Marcadier posed along with various of his creations ranging of his first bicycle product to a gorgeous Barzoï coupé. (Picture from: Marcadier)

During the 1980s, Marcadier even had time to launch a futuristic car model called the Marcadier Barzoï 2 and continued in 1987, his car venture also made replicas of legendary cars such as the Seven, GT40, Cobra, and others. And the French creative and innovative car builder passed away in 2013 at the age of 88 in his home-town Lyon.😢

And as quoted of Osenat, one of the FM 01 Barquette of 1964 which once owned by Marcel Petitjean for many years had been announced to sell for between $32,000-$45,000, and sold at the price of $32,750 back in the 2013. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCADIER | CLASSICDRIVER | OSENAT | CLASSICCAEWEEKLY | MYSPCARS | ]

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