Editing Chappe et Gessalin (section)

==Automobiles CG==
[[File:Emblem CG.JPG|thumb|CG emblem]]

In the early 1960s, the staff at Chappe et Gessalin had grown to around 40 people.<ref name="echappementc1"/>

While it continued working with a variety of car builders, demand from one of its largest customers, Alpine, was diminishing as Alpine's associated bodyworks, RDL, took over production of most Alpine models.

In 1964 management at Chappe et Gessalin began planning to become an automobile manufacturer in their own right. The new venture would be known as Automobiles CG ("CG" for Chappe et Gessalin). While there were already the skills in-house to do the styling and mechanical design of an entire car as well as produce the bodywork and chassis, they would need to source engines, transmissions, suspension parts, brakes and associated trim.<ref name="gazoline199">{{cite web|url=http://www.accg.free.fr/index.php/la-presse-en-parle/284-gazoline-nd199-avril-2013.html|title=CG Spider 1000 S : LE SPORT, CHEVEUX AU VENT|work=www.accg.free.fr}}</ref>

With Renault committed to Alpine and with Peugeot and Citroën (with Panhard) declining to participate, Automobiles CG turned to the Simca company and their pool of production mechanical components to supply its needs.<ref name="as-cg"/><ref name="gtfrance">{{cite web|url=http://gtfrance.free.fr/cg.html|title=Les dérivées sportifs CG |work=gtfrance.free.fr}}</ref> Parts for the first CG came from a wrecked 1000 provided by Simca dealer Roger Civet.<ref name="gazoline199"/>

The design of the first CG model began in 1965, and the car debuted at the 1966 Salon de l'Auto in Paris. Called the 1000 Spider, it was a small rear-engined convertible with a 2+2 fiberglass body that used powertrain and suspension components from the Simca 1000.<ref name="amicale2"/><ref name="menin">{{cite web|url=http://memim.com/chappe-et-gessalin.html|title=Chappe et Gessalin|work=menim.com}}</ref>

Since Jean Gessalin had designed what would become the very first Alpine, it was no surprise that the first CG bore a strong resemblance to its cousin from Dieppe, right down to the exposed hinges on the car.

The car received positive reviews for its appearance and the high level of fit and finish, but drivers were unimpressed by the {{convert|29.4|kW|hp|1}} produced by the {{cvt|944|cc|cuin|1}} engine and the high price.

CG later offered a high-performance version of the same engine that had been tuned by Michel Tapie from Rodez with power boosted by 50 percent to {{convert|58.9|kW|hp|1}}.<ref name="breve"/>

Different variations of the original 1000 were produced over its three-year lifespan.

The 1000 Spider was replaced by the CG 1200S in 1968. The engine was now the same as that found in the Simca 1200S, and power was double that of the original 1000. It is during the time that the 1200S was being built that CG began to collaborate with Chrysler Europe (via the Simca division in France) in sportscar racing and rallying.<ref name="amicale6">{{cite web|url=http://www.amicalecg.fr/spip/spip.php?article12&var_recherche=Le%20CG%20%22548%22|title=Le CG Proto MC|work=www.amicalecg.fr}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1972 the third and final major CG model entered production, the CG 1300. Power was now provided by the same engine found in the Simca 1000 Rallye 2. This model also received many upgrades to its body and trim.