Louis Coatalen by Oliver S. Heal (Hardback)

£40.00
Out of stock
Product Ref. (e.g. ISBN, SKU)
9781912690695
Published:
01 Mar 2020
Format:
Hardback
Number of pages:
288 pages
Dimensions:
270x225x25mm
Weight:
1.624kgs
Author:
Louis Coatalen emerges from this biography as a man full of Gallic charm and wit, determined to obtain success for his products by whatever means necessary. His perseverance and a certain lack of scruples, his ability to recognise a good idea and recruit talented individuals, combined with his undoubted leadership skills made him a major figure in motoring history. Coatalen's successes and failures are traced from his birth in Brittany, his training as an engineer in France, through to his rise to fame in the British motor industry, bringing success to both Humber and Sunbeam before WW1. His aero-engines were used extensively by the RNAS. His personal motor racing story is told as well as that of his team management of cars and drivers that included the very first British car to win a Grand Prix and others that broke the World Land Speed Records on five occasions.

WINNER OF THE 2020 MICHAEL SEDGWICK AWARD

Louis Coatalen emerges from this biography as a man full of Gallic charm and wit, determined to obtain success for his products by whatever means necessary. His perseverance and a certain lack of scruples, his ability to recognise a good idea and recruit talented individuals, combined with his undoubted leadership skills made him a major figure in motoring history.

Coatalen's successes and failures are traced from his birth in Brittany, his training as an engineer in France, through to his rise to fame in the British motor industry, bringing success to both Humber and Sunbeam before WW1. His aero-engines were used extensively by the RNAS.

His personal motor racing story is told as well as that of his team management of cars and drivers that included the very first British car to win a Grand Prix and others that broke the World Land Speed Records on five occasions. During his later career after returning to France he built up the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company and also devoted much time and money to developing a powerful, but ultimately unsuccessful, diesel aero-engine. His somewhat complicated private life involving four wives, drug addiction and some injudicious investments are also put on record for the first time.

About the Author: Alongside a career in the furnishing trade, Oliver Heal's other abiding interest has always been vintage motor cars, and in particular the Sunbeam cars with which he grew up. He continues to maintain the archive on Sunbeam Racing Cars, but this biography of Louis Coatalen has been given extra depth and colour through access to Coatalen family documents. The outcome of some twenty years research, the book contains many previously unseen photographs and background information. Oliver Heal continues to enjoy motoring in vintage Sunbeams at home and abroad. He is married to Annik, one of Louis Coatalen's granddaughters, and has three step-daughters and a son.

More Information
Number of pages 288

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