The Ford Abeille — French for bee — was a commercial variant of the Vedette saloon built by Ford’s French subsidiary between 1952 and 1954. It carried a 500 kg payload and was sold in the French market only, until Ford abandoned its French factory.
Ford Abeille at a glance
| Maker | Ford’s French subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Production | 1952–1954 |
| Model code | F492C |
| Based on | Ford Vedette saloon |
| Engine | 2.1 L flathead V8, detuned, 12CV rating |
| Payload | 500 kg (1,102 lb) |
| Body | saloon with two-piece opening tailgate |
| Trim | painted parts instead of chrome, mesh grille |
| First shown | June 1952 |
| 1954 update | Vedette grille, B-post removed |
| End of production | 1954, when Ford sold the French plant to Simca |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only. No free photographs of the Abeille itself were found, so the page uses the original picture of the record.
History of the Ford Abeille
A load carrier from the Vedette
The Abeille was created as a commercial variant of the Vedette, the car Ford’s French subsidiary built from an abandoned American project for a cheap post-war car. Its bodystyle, with a two-piece opening tailgate, followed the 1949 Kaiser Traveler. Inside there was a durable, downmarket trim, the rearmost side windows were covered from inside although the glass stayed, almost all chrome was replaced by painted parts and the Vedette’s grille gave way to a simple mesh.
Engine and payload
The 2.1-litre flathead V8 was fitted with a different intake manifold and carburettor, which lowered power but raised fuel economy and longevity and allowed a lower French tax rating of 12CV. The payload was 500 kg. The Abeille had been preceded by a short-lived, simplified “agricultural” version of the Vedette shown at the October 1951 Paris Salon; the Abeille itself was first shown in June 1952.
The short 1954 season
For the abbreviated 1954 model year the Abeille was updated: it received the same grille as the regular Vedette, and the B-post was removed to give a larger side opening. Production ended after Ford decided to leave France and sold its factory to Simca, which ended the Vedette line as a French Ford.
Design and features
- Two-piece tailgate: the body change that made the Vedette a load carrier.
- Commercial trim: painted instead of chromed details and a plain mesh grille.
- Detuned V8: less power, but better economy and a lower 12CV tax rating.
- 500 kg payload: enough for small tradesmen’s loads.
Ford Abeille versions
- Abeille (1952–1953): the original commercial saloon.
- Abeille 1954: Vedette grille and a larger side opening without the B-post.
- Vedette: the passenger car on which it was based.
The Abeille was derived from the Ford Vedette. More Ford vehicles are in the Ford collection.
Sources
- Ford Abeille, English Wikipedia: body, engine, payload, production
