Vauvillier, Francois Tous les Latil Militaires 1914-1940. Volune 1: Camions et Tracteurs Routiers

Volume 5 of the "La Collection Vauvillier" series. Do you remember that Georges Latil's invention, patented in 1897, was the forerunner of the famous "front-wheel drive"? In the early days of the automobile, the formula was aimed at a modest goal: to convert a horse-drawn vehicle by replacing the horse-drawn carriage with a front-wheel motor driving the front wheels, which, although still steerable, were now driven by a motor. This simple and ingenious invention made the manufacturer famous, who supplied almost 3000 Latil TAR artillery tractors with "total adhesion" (four driven wheels, all steerable) in the course of the First World War. After the victory, the manufacturer from Suresnes continued to develop, improve and modernise its flagship model and expanded its product range to include tractors with all-wheel drive as well as classic road vehicles of all tonnages. Although Latil production is relatively modest in quantitative terms, it is so rich in military models and versions that it requires two volumes in this series to be covered in its entirety. In this first volume, it has been decided to present the entire TAR family, including its little brother, the TP tractor unit, but also all the lorries and vans that served under the US flag from the turn of the 20th century until the Armistice in June 1940.