Darracq was a French manufacturer of motor vehicles and aero engines founded in 1896 by Alexandre Darracq. The company started with the production of bicycles and later moved into the production of motorized tricycles and quadricycles. In 1900, Darracq produced its first car, a three-wheeled vehicle with a single-cylinder engine. In 1903, Darracq sold his business to a British investment group and the company was renamed A Darracq and Company Limited. Under British ownership, the company continued to produce a range of successful vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles. In 1912, the company moved its production facilities to England and started producing cars at a new factory in Surrey.
However, by 1913, the company was facing financial difficulties due to Alexandre Darracq's unproven and unsuccessful unconventional engine designs. The outbreak of World War I worsened the company's financial situation and forced Alexandre Darracq to retire. In 1920, the company's name was changed to STD Motors Limited and in 1922, Darracq's name was dropped from all products. The company continued to produce vehicles under the Talbot brand until 1935 when it was acquired by investors led by the Suresnes factory's managing director, Antonio Lago. Overall, Darracq played an important role in the early history of the automobile industry and produced a range of successful vehicles throughout its history.
