Piccard-Pictet V8 Sleeve-Valve History

Exhibited at the 1919 Paris Salon, the post-war Pic-Pic V8 was one of the marque's most ambitious products: a 5.9-litre (5,881 cc) V8 with the two cylinder blocks arranged at 60 degrees, retaining the single-sleeve-valve design for refinement. With dry-sump lubrication, four-wheel brakes, and a long 13-foot 2-inch wheelbase, it was positioned as a luxury flagship to compete with the finest European coaches.

The post-war economic environment proved fatal for Piccard-Pictet. Cheap imported cars — particularly from France and the United States — undercut the expensive hand-built Swiss cars. Labour unrest and materials shortages compounded the difficulty, and the company was declared bankrupt in 1920. Gnome et Rhône, a French aircraft-engine manufacturer, acquired the remaining parts inventory and continued to assemble cars in small numbers until 1924, when the marque finally expired.