Celebrating Henri Chapron Noëlle Chapron, the daughter of Henri, talks about working with her father in his later years
Delahayes with Chapron coachwork pose at the edge of the Pacific (front to back): Omnium Venture's 235 MS; Merle & Peter Mullin's 145; Linda & Paul Gould's 175 S; Tampa Bay Automobile Museum's 235; Charles Chadwyck's 135; Jon Shirley & Kim Richter's 135; Jim Hull's 135; The Atwell Family's 135; and Ed Schoenthaler's 135.
In the midst of celebrating the coachwork of Henri Chapron, which often debuted at the Paris Auto Salon, we had some time to speak with Henri’s daughter Noëlle ChapronPaul about growing up in her father’s shop. Alongside her mother, Noëlle also worked to keep Henri Chapron Carrossier open for nearly a decade after Henri’s death in the late 1970s. We were eager to learn of her fondest memories and experiences as well as her current efforts to keep the Chapron legacy alive.
Lexi Maciel: When did you begin working with your father in his shop and what did you do? Noëlle Chapron: I began working for my father after I finished high school and passed the French baccalaureat. I worked in the office, learning the ins and outs of coachbuilding. What was it like? I realized how much time and devotion my father had to give to his work to be able to design a model and see that it was built exactly as he wanted it to be, following its creation very closely from start to finish. What is one clear memory you have regarding your time working with him? I learned that creativity can be expressed in unique ways. When faced with a “problem” that had the potential to slow the production line, my dad would often sit alone in his office for a short time while the workers took a coffee or lunch break. Soon after, Dad would emerge with a look of confidence, prepared to meet with his workers to discuss and decide on possible solutions to keep his creations rolling. Dad's silent period was the source of much of Chapron auto work’s creativity. What are some of the most valuable things you learned from your father? To start, he made it very clear that doing something you love is more important than money. He also taught me the value of learning how to be the best at what you do. Being focused and persevering is also important if you want to succeed in your goals. You should not get intimidated or discouraged by temporary obstacles. Were you always interested in cars? I grew up around automobiles and was able to see the way my father would create and embellish them. I loved to watch him transform what could have been just another massproduced product into the envy of the roadway.
Noëlle Chapron is interviewed by Derek Hill at a press conference during Pebble Beach Automotive Week
Can you take us through a timeline of some of your father’s most significant creations? There are so many! • Beginning in the early twenties, I would pick the coachworks done on the Ford Model Ts, just because that is how he started his business. • In the late twenties to midthirties, I would pick a Bugatti Roadster, a Voisin Coupé de Ville, a Packard or the HispanoSuiza Splendid, where he showed how to elegantly combine Coupé de Ville, Landaulet and Cabriolet work. This is how he got sa renommée international, or recognized on a world level, by the elite. • From the midthirties to the early fifties, I would choose a very classy and elegant 3position cabriolet—a Delage, Delahaye, Talbot, HispanoSuiza, RollsRoyce or Packard—that my father excelled in. • From the early fifties to the early sixties, I would pick the Autobleu or the Hotchkiss Grégoire Coupé, because, for me, that is what showed the world how resourceful he could be. The Autobleu is an example of Henri making a very elegant design from what was a common car, the Renault 4CV. • From the early sixties to the midseventies, I would choose from the Citroën Cabriolet, the Cadillacs built for His Majesty Hassan II the King of Morocco, or the Citroën SM Mylord Limousines built for French President Georges Pompidou. All of these showed how he was able to combine a regular chassis, whether foreign or French, with the elegance of a very distinguished model and adapt it to the needs of his elitist clientele. • From the midseventies to the mideighties, I would probably choose the armored limousine built for Mr. Heineken, which showed how resourceful Chapron could be through the hands of his successors. They illustrated that the firm knew how to maintain the image of French class and tradition throughout the years. After your father’s death, which car did you work on that you hold most near to your heart? The project I hold most near to my heart is probably the T Roof on the Matra Simca. It showed how the firm could still produce original and elegant work despite the increase in government security norms regarding convertible designs. Tell me about what it was like when you and your mother worked in the shop? My mother worked for the business almost 20 years. She kept it alive by finding new avenues for its growth. It was a very difficult task for her because at the time, in Europe, very few women worked in the automobile industry.
As an aside, can you tell me about the symbol of a rooster that your father sometimes used? What is its significance? Henri was early to rise and focused on daily challenges. The Rooster heralded Dad's enthusiasm for the coming day. He was known for making mysterious "muted" references to an ancestral elite lineage symbolized by the crowing rooster. My father was also patriotic and very proud to be French—and one of the national emblems of France is the “Coq Gaulois” (the Gallic Rooster). It was used to decorate French flags during the Revolution. What are your goals for the ongoing recognition of Chapron Coachwork in the modern day? I would like people to be able to remember my dad through his work. It is very important to me that the restorations of his cars be done in a such a way that the cars remain as they were when first produced. The image of Henri Chapron must be kept alive through his creations, but I hope it will also involve the reemergence of his business.
Chapron Coachwork at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
First in Class E1: 1926 HispanoSuiza H6B Chapron
First in Class E2: 1937 Delahaye 135 Chapron
Cabriolet owned by Frank & Milli Ricciardelli
Coupé des Alpes owned by Jon Shirley & Kim Richter
The Atwell Family's Delahaye 135 MS Chapron Cabriolet heads out on the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance presented by Rolex
Second in Class E1: 1922 HispanoSuiza H6B
Second in Class E2: 1937 Delahaye 145 Chapron
Chapron Splendid Landaulet owned by Ing. Alexander
Coupé owned by Merle & Peter Mullin
Schaufler
Helen & Brent Heath's 1934 RollsRoyce Phantom II Chapron 3 Position Drophead Coupé pulls onto the Concours showfield
Third in Class E1: 1939 Delage D8120 Chapron
Third in Class E2: 1947 Delahaye 175 S Chapron Le
Cabriolet owned by Merle & Peter Mullin
Dandy Cabriolet owned by Linda & Paul Gould
Jim Hull's 1948 Delahaye 135 MS Chapron Vedette Cabriolet traces the Pacific while on the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance presented by Rolex
Jon Shirley & Kim Richter's 1937 Delahaye 135
Jon Shirley & Kim Richter's 1937 Delahaye 135
Chapron Coupé des Alpes
Chapron Coupé des Alpes
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 200 Clock Tower Place, Suite 205A | Carmel, CA 93923 8 316221700 | 8316229100 (fax) |
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