The Anthéor was the cabriolet version of the Hotchkiss Anjou, presented and launched at the same time as the saloon and built from 1950 to 1954. Its lines were drawn by the French designer Henri Chapron, and assembly was entrusted to his workshops. About forty were built, one of the last cars Hotchkiss made before it turned to trucks and military vehicles.
Hotchkiss Anthéor at a glance
| Maker | Automobiles Hotchkiss, France |
|---|---|
| Production | 1950–1954 |
| Body | two-door cabriolet based on the Anjou |
| Designer | Henri Chapron |
| Assembly | Chapron workshops |
| Wheelbases | 2.92 m and 3.09 m |
| Small engine | 2,312 cc four-cylinder in-line, 72 hp |
| Large engine | 3,485 cc six-cylinder in-line, 125 hp at 4,000 rpm |
| Drive | rear-wheel drive |
| Gearbox | four-speed manual |
| Top speed | 140 km/h |
| Built | about 40 |
The Anthéor is covered by the Italian Wikipedia article on the model and by the English article on the Anjou.
History of the Hotchkiss Anthéor
A cabriolet for the Anjou
The Anthéor was nothing more than the cabriolet version of the Anjou. It was presented and launched at the same time as the closed car and kept much of its shape, but the lines were drawn by the French designer Henri Chapron, and even the assembly was entrusted to his works. The car came in two wheelbase lengths, 2.92 m and 3.09 m.
The same two engines
Like the Anjou, the Anthéor was offered with two engines. The smaller was the historic 2,312 cc four-cylinder in-line, good for 72 hp; the larger was the equally historic 3,485 cc six-cylinder, rated at 125 hp at 4,000 rpm. Drive went to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, and the top speed quoted was 140 km/h.
Too expensive to sell
The Anthéor suffered badly from a list price that was too high and not in the least competitive, and only about forty examples were made. Production ended in 1954. The car was one of the last passenger models Hotchkiss produced, together with the Anjou and the Grégoire; after the acquisition of Delahaye the firm turned completely to lorries, off-road vehicles and military equipment.
Design and features
- Chapron bodywork: designed and assembled by Henri Chapron, with the Anjou’s shapes opened up into a two-door cabriolet.
- Two wheelbases: the car was built on 2.92 m and 3.09 m chassis.
- Four or six cylinders: the 2.3-litre four with 72 hp, or the 3.5-litre six with 125 hp.
- Rare and expensive: a high list price limited production to about forty cars.
Hotchkiss Anthéor versions
- Anthéor four-cylinder: the 2,312 cc car with 72 hp.
- Anthéor six-cylinder: the 3,485 cc car with 125 hp and a 140 km/h top speed, on the longer of the two wheelbases.
- Short and long chassis: the two wheelbase options of 2.92 m and 3.09 m.
- Anjou saloon: the closed car on which the cabriolet was based.
The Anthéor was the open version of the Anjou, and it was sold in the same years as the front-wheel-drive Grégoire. More cars are in the Hotchkiss collection.
Sources
- Hotchkiss Anthéor, Italian Wikipedia: body, wheelbases, engines, price
- Hotchkiss Anjou, English Wikipedia: the Anthéor cabriolet and its production
- Hotchkiss, Italian Wikipedia: the end of Hotchkiss car production
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