Charles Montier

Early years Aged 15, Montier – with his father Elie and friend Gillet – built his first car, the Montier & Gillet, a steam-powered wagonette steered by a tiller. The sole example was exhibited in Paris in 1897. selling and modifying Fords first in Tours in 1911 and then Paris,

24 Hours of Le Mans

An experienced racer and hillclimber, Montier entered the Grand Prix d' Endurance de 24 Heures, also known as the 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside Albert Ouriou. This was the first running of Le Mans, which was to become one of the most prestigious motor races in the world.

The Ford Model T was a mass-produced, mass-market vehicle – in the words of Henry Ford, "a motor car for the great multitude... so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one"; 1.8 million were sold in 1923 alone. Montier added two rear seats to the Model T – hanging over the back of the rear axle he also modified the cylinder head, camshaft, brakes, and gearbox to make his Montier Special.

Thirty-three cars started the race; Montier and Ouriou finished in 14th place.

A 1924 Montier FordMontier returned to Le Mans in 1924 with his modified Ford special, now fitted with 4-wheel brakes. The car retired on lap 40 with engine problems.

The duo's third and final attempt at Le Mans, in 1925, was also unsuccessful as they were unclassified due to only completing 54 of the 117 laps required.

Grand Prix Alongside the Le Man entries, Charles continued hillclimbing; and he and his son Ferdinand raced Montier Specials in the Coupe de la Commission Sportive event, a support race to the 1927 French Grand Prix.

The Montiers turned their attention to racing Ford Model A-based Montier Specials in Grand Prix at numerous events between 1929 and 1935. The cars had lowered chassis and many engine modifications.

Both men entered – and both failed to finish – the 1929 Dieppe Grand Prix. ), but was not classified in the 1930 French Grand Prix and retired from the 1930 San Sebastián Grand Prix.

Championship races in the 1931 Grand Prix season were endurance races of 10 hours duration with 2 drivers assigned to each car. (Contrary to other sources, Motor Sport's database lists the race as non-Championship.) This is likely erroneous as the same magazine's report of August 1931 referred to the event as "the final race for the 1931 Championship of Europe". and the 1931 Dieppe Grand Prix where he finished 10th.

Montier entered only one Grand Prix as a driver in the 1932 season, the 1932 Picardy Grand Prix where he finished 9th. A Montier Special with Ferdinand at the wheel turned up at the 1932 La Baule Grand Prix, however; the car on this occasion sported two engines "mounted in tandem for a total of 4072cc capacity" instead of the Ford Model A-derived 3.3L straight 4 used hitherto.

Montier entered the Belgian Grand Prix for the third and last time in 1934, at the age of 55. This race was a Grandes Épreuves because there was again no championship awarded in that year. Seven cars qualified, but only five completed the race; Montier came home 5th in his Ford V8-powered Special.

The rainy 1935 Grand Prix at the Orléans Circuit was stopped on lap 7 due to an accident involving Marcel Buffy's Bugatti Type 51; Buffy's car crashed into the crowd, hitting 12 spectators and fatally wounding one of them. Montier, one lap down, was classified 3rd. This may have been in the V8-powered car. Montier placed 10th of the 16 entrants and 12 finishers.

Racing record Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Driver Chassis Engine Tyre Laps 1923 Établissements Charles Montier et Cie Albert Ouriou Montier Special (Ford Model T) Montier 2008cc S4 97 14th 1924 Établissements Charles Montier et Cie Albert Ouriou Montier Special (Ford Model T) Montier 1996cc S4 40 DNF 1925 Établissements Charles Montier et Cie Albert Ouriou Montier Special (Ford Model T) Montier 2.9L S4 54 DSQ

Complete European Championship results Year Entrant Co-Driver Chassis Engine 1 2 3 Pts 1931 Charles Montier "Ducolombier" Montier-Ford Ford 3.3L S4 ITA FRA BEL8th 20th 21