View source for CTA-Arsenal

[[File:Cta-arsenal-monaco.jpg|right|300px|thumb|CTA-Arsenal at the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix for historical cars]]
The '''CTA-Arsenal''' is a French racing car which was developed by the ''Centre for the study of car and cycle technology'' then abbreviated as CTA but today renamed as the [[:fr:Union technique de l'automobile, du motocycle et du cycle|UTAC]] and constructed by [[Arsenal de l'Aéronautique|Arsenal]] at [[Châtillon, Hauts-de-Seine|Châtillon]]. Two cars were eventually built. The car was intended as the French "national single seat racing car" to compete against [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo]] but the project was abandoned because the car proved incapable of finishing the races in which it was scheduled to appear.<ref name=Automobilia1948>{{cite book |section=Automobilia |title=Toutes les voitures françaises 1948 (Salon Paris oct 1947)|volume=7|page =20|year =1998|publisher=Histoire & collections|location=Paris }}</ref>
==Origins==
In 1945 [[Raymond Sommer]], who had won the [[Le Mans 24 Hour Race]] in [[1932 24 Hours of Le Mans|1932]] and [[1933 24 Hours of Le Mans|1933]], informed the engineers at the [[:fr: Union technique de l'automobile, du motocycle et du cycle|CTA]] about his project to construct a racing car that could represent France in motor races. He persuaded [[Marcel Paul]], the industry minister, to release government funds in order that the CTA might work on the project.
Albert Lory, who had built his reputation with [[Delage]] in the 1920s, was placed in charge of the project team, but he only took responsibility for the engine, being highly critical of the chassis and suspension design which he, along with independent commentators, regarded as the car's weak spot.
In 1947 the car was entered for the [[1947 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]], and the race, run that year at [[Lyon]], was postponed till 21 September to enable it to compete. Unfortunately the transmission broke on the start line,<ref name=Automobilia1948/> and the record shows that it was placed last after completing zero laps. Nevertheless, the next year the CTA-Arsenal team returned to the fray, now with two cars built. It was scheduled to feature in the [[1948 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]], run at [[Reims-Gueux|Rheims]] in July 1948, but had to withdraw at the last minute.<ref name=Automobilia1948/> The race was won by an [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo]].
The car made its second and final race appearance in 1949 before the project was abandoned and the project team leader, Albert Lory, joined [[Renault]] as the director responsible for research.
==Technical==
Lory designed a high performance 1 482&nbsp;cc [[V8 engine]] incorporating four overhead camshafts and two Roots compressors.<ref name=Automobilia1948/>  This unit initially provided 215&nbsp;hp at 6,000 rpm. By 1948 the engine had been modified to produce a maximum of 275&nbsp;hp at 8,000 rpm. However, it was matched to a transmission system that one commentator described as "delicate".<ref name=Automobilia1948/>
The chassis employed independent suspension with longitudinal torsion bars at the front and lateral torsion bars at the rear, with wheels mounted on "silent blocks" that permitted vertical movement.   The road holding provided by this combination was reported to be catastrophic.<ref name=Automobilia1948/>  Stopping power came from hydraulically controlled drum brakes and the car sat on [[Rudge-Whitworth]] spoked wheels.
==Sources and further reading==
{{Reflist}}
== See also ==
[[:fr: Union technique de l'automobile, du motocycle et du cycle|UTAC (French)]]
== External links ==
* [http://forix.autosport.com/8w/cta.html CTA-Arsenal bei 8W (english)]
* [http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event/223/2010-Monaco-Historic-Grand-Prix.html Bericht über den GP für historische Fahrzeuge in Monaco 2010 bei ultimatecarpage.com]
* [http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/gallery/20529/CTA-Arsenal.html Foto des CTA-Arsenal am GP für historische Fahrzeuge in Monaco 2010 bei ultimatecarpage.com (englisch)]
* [http://diccionario.motorgiga.com/diccionario/cta-arsenal-definicion-significado/gmx-niv15-con193733.htm CTA-Arsenal bei diccionario.motorgiga.com (spanisch)]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_AwBzjQmMI Motor des CT-Arsenal auf dem Prüfstand (youtube)]
* [http://lh6.ggpht.com/pipercubflyer/SPj6YLNtr4I/AAAAAAAANoI/n2GQMZ6hMQ8/s800/image0-49.jpg 1962 photo of unrestored CTA-Arsenal]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Car manufacturers of France]]