Chenard-Walcker Aigle History

Launched at the 1933–34 Paris Salon, the Aigle (French for 'Eagle') family was the final attempt to revive Chenard-Walcker's fortunes. The range was tiered: the Aiglon ('Eaglet') was the entry-level four-cylinder car aimed at the volume market, while larger-engined Aigle 4, Aigle 8, and — at the top — Aigle 22 variants carried six-cylinder and V8 powertrains.

The Super Aigle 4, engineered with help from Jean-Albert Grégoire, introduced front-wheel drive using Tracta constant-velocity joints and fully independent suspension — genuinely advanced for 1934. However it reached the market simultaneously with Citroën's landmark Traction Avant and was considerably more expensive, making commercial success impossible.

By 1936 the company was bankrupt; body manufacturer Chausson took it over and continued limited car production using Citroën and Ford V8 engines under badge-engineered arrangements with Matford. Car production finally wound down in 1939–40, leaving Chausson to carry on the Chenard-Walcker name in trucks and buses into the 1970s.