Ruby (car)

Ruby was a French manufacturer of cyclecars. After automobile production ended they remained in business as an engine builder.

File:26-8-20, Circuit de la Sarthe, Lévêque sur Ruby - photographie de presse - Agence Rol - btv1b530516708.jpg

Lévêque in a Ruby at II Grand Prix de l'U.M.F. at Circuit de la Sarthe on 26 August 1920.^[1]

Company history

The company which built the Ruby cars and engines was called H. Godefroy et Lévêque and was located in Levallois-Perret, in northwestern Paris. In 1909 they began building automobiles under their own names, the production of which ended by 1922.^[2] After the building of automobiles came to an end the company proceeded to develop and sell proprietary engines to a large number of small light car manufacturers.^[3] Some of the earlier cyclecars were marketed under the "Super" brand until 1919 or thereabouts.

1917 Super B2 (977 cc)

Automobiles

Until 1914 Godefroy et Lévêque offered three single-cylinder cars and three two-cylinder versions, from 6CV to 12CV. They were also sold in England (until 1912) as the "Elburn-Ruby" and until 1914 as the "Tweenie". In 1919 an inline-four engined version appeared.

Engines

Ruby four-cylinder engine

Ruby engines were installed in a large number of different brands of light cars and cyclecars, including but not limited to: B.N.C., Coadou et Fleury, D’Yrsan, E.H.P., Georges Irat, Hinstin, JG Sport, Jousset, Kevah, Lambert, Le Cabri, Philos [de], Rally, Sandford, and Sénéchal. Production of Ruby engines did not recommence after World War II.

Ruby's first success was the "type A" 903 cc sidevalve "four", with a 55 mm bore and 95 mm stroke; this engine won a number of class victories in the very early 1920s.^[4] There was also the "AS" block, with a 57 mm bore for a 972 cc displacement. Ruby's first "1100" was the "OC Grand Sport" with 1094 cc (59 x 100 mm, the same dimensions as the Chapuis-Dornier "1100" engine of the same period). In early 1926 the "DS Grand Sport" appeared; of 60 x 97 mm bore and stroke it is a 1097 cc engine which produces between 30 and 34 PS (22 and 25 kW).^[5]

1913 Super 5 hp or 9 hp

The Ruby K was a later, overhead valve supercharged performance version; with 62 x 90 mm bore and stroke it has a displacement of 1087 cc.^[6] Many of Ruby's other engines were also available with superchargers fitted, from René Cozette or other manufacturers.