Louis Coatalen

Louis Hervé Coatalen (11 September 1879 – 23 May 1962)[1] was an automobile engineer and racing driver born in Brittany who spent much of his adult life in Britain and took British nationality.

After serving his apprenticeship with De Dion-Bouton, Clément and Panhard et Levasseur he left France to work in England in 1900.

After a short time with the Crowden Motor Car Company he joined Humber Limited in 1901[2] and was to become their chief engineer.

On his death in 1962 Lord Sempill wrote to The Times to point out that Coatalen was one of the three leading designers of engines for aircraft and airships used by the RNAS in the First World War.

[citation needed] On his direction, Sunbeam was among the first British manufacturers to provide front wheel brakes.

[2] Coatalen's innovations included balancing the wheels (a technique also claimed by Sig Haugdahl) and putting the oil pump in the sump, and he was an early advocate of shock absorbers.

[8] Sunbeam became heavily involved in land speed record attempts including the successful 1000HP car of 1927 and the failed 'Silver Bullet' of 1930.

"[5] W O Bentley described him as "not only a first class businessman who made (and lost) a great deal of money in his active life with Sunbeams; he had other qualities which I liked even better; he was highly educated and amusing and a tremendous raconteur, and he was dedicated to motor racing".