Hotchkiss Anjou History

The Anjou (1950–1954) was Hotchkiss's final mainstream car, offered on two chassis inherited from the pre-war era: the 1350 (a 2,312 cc four-cylinder OHC unit producing 72–75 hp) and the 2050 (the 3,485 cc six-cylinder producing up to 125 hp). Both engines used designs dating to the mid-1920s but remained mechanically refined, and the six-cylinder version placed the Anjou in the heavy 20CV taxation class.

Body styles ran to a four-door saloon, a two-door coupé, and the glamorous Anthéor cabriolet — though only around 40 Anthéors were built. Total Anjou production reached 5,465 units; output peaked at 2,666 in 1951 before collapsing to 197 in 1953 as economic pressure and punitive French horsepower taxes squeezed the luxury market. The Anjou was effectively Hotchkiss's swan song in traditional front-engined, rear-drive coachbuilt cars.