Everything began for Gaston Reverchon when the orphan from Jura, 24 years of age, and a working-class metal-worker from the “Franche-Comté Forge”, arrived in Paris with a Students Certificate in his pocket, to train for the profession of sheet metal worker at Renault and then at Binder, a high quality body work manufacturer on the Champs-Elysees, where Gaston went on to become the team leader. This promotion gave him the desire to set up on his own with the help of a manual worker and an apprentice: with some disappointment perhaps, since this was the century when the automated car was disappearing from the world of the craftsman to the world of industry.

1927, Gaston spent his time building up and renovating the bodies of vehicles from such well known companies as Delage, Bentley, Rolls Royce and Delahaye, as well as side-cars, in a workshop 20 square meters in size which he constructed in Gentilly, in the suburbs of Paris next to a small villa where he himself lived.
One day, Marcel Boussac, a client of the small enterprise and admirer of Gaston’s skilled work which followed all the classic artistic rules, sent his chauffeur in to get a repair done: the latter gave Gaston the idea to create a body out of sheet metal with his own wings, his own radiator grill and headlights which the fairgrounds (where he sometimes had occasion to wait after chauffeuring his employer to) would be able to use in order to transform their “Scooter Car”, (a plank of wood with 2 wheels, a seat and a steering wheel), into something more than a car in name only!
Gaston threw himself into this transformation and then into the idea of a bumper car in sheet metal, made entirely by hand in an avant garde style and in which the comfort was as important as the innovation.
At this time, one car a week was produced in the little workshop, with the help of 3 workers and his wife, exercising her modest talents from the haute couture clothing and who joined them to add the final touches.

1943, Gaston had the idea to manufacture a revolving ride, the “Bobsleigh”, with cars like the ones on the Matterhorn, on which the seats were made of sheet metal by his son Michel, who joined in with the production at the age of seventeen, followed by Christian, the youngest son, several years later. Christian, for his part, constructed his first kiddies carousel several years before the end of the war. The fairgrounds were already looking for attractions and beginning to equip them: the two Reverchon sons prepared themselves.

1944,

1945, it was the beginning of mass production, ten employees manufactured twelve bumper cars a week.
It soon became clear that the garage at Gentilly was rapidly becoming far too small.

1946,

1950, saw the creation of a promising model constructed from sheet metal with hub caps made by hand.
It also saw the building of the factory at Samois near to Fontainebleau, a site that Gaston discovered whilst looking for more suitable accommodation.

1953, the factory in Samois starts its work; On this site the big rides will be manufactured (Dodgem tracks and Round rides). So that more space is available for the car production.
A steel chassis comes out to replace the wooden chassis.

1954,

1956, 1958,

1960, The body work in steel was replaced by polyester, for which Michel was the precursor, (against the advice of his father who asked him what he would be able to make from this pulp cardboard).
The engine was moved in order to lower centre of gravity, and thus to refine the look from the level of the bonnet. Several years later, the steel chassis of the car was substituted for polyester. Its creator, like other vehicle constructors of the period, was inspired by the curved lines which were so fashionable on the other side of the Atlantic.

1962, the arrival of coinmechanism system.

1965, 1966, 
1968, 

1969, a fire destroyed the polyester workshop at Samois which had to be re-constructed by the employees themselves. It was thanks to their courage that the production line was able to start functioning again several months later.

1970,

1971, the factories at Gentilly were completely transferred to Samois.

1972,

1974, with the model Atlanta, Michel Reverchon introduced a new style which revolutionised the French and European markets, thanks to its modern body shape, its head-rests, the steering and its seats made from polyurethene foam which provided a major asset in terms of security.
More than 15,000 cars were made over a period of five years.

It was at about this time that a demand began to emerge in the United States.
A new system using floor pick-up power was created specifically for this market.

Other attempts later followed to improve the comfort and security of the bumper car, whilst keeping up with the advance of technology which though less spectacular than the days of the sixties, were nevertheless determining the future:

• floor brush between the chassis and the track,
• pedal with micro-switch,
• moulded-in coloured painted bodies (plain, metallic).

1978, 1981,

1982, Gaston Reverchon passed away at the age of eighty-one closely followed by his wife two weeks later. All this time he had been encouraging and preparing the work for those who would succeed him: his team, but also his children and his grand-children.

1984,

1985, this year proved more difficult as Reverchon had to concentrate its efforts on the Theme Park market where competition was beginning to develop, in Europe, the United States and also in the countries of the Middle East.
More than 1,500 tonnes of materials were transformed each year into roundabouts and other various attractions, by 250 employees.
The market for cars was a little neglected and the production of these did not exceed more that 900 units per year.

However, the bumper cars future goes on:

• engine without a clutch,
• bearings and pinions requiring no maintenance,
• halogen lamps,
• moulded-in Coloured painted bodies (mixed: plain, metallic, fluorescent).

1986, 1988,

1990, the enterprise split up into two separate companies: one manufacturing the carousels and the other, the cars.

• Reverchon Industries will develop the manufacture of large attractions, mainly on show at themeparks and fairgrounds.
• Gaston Reverchon International Design went on to produce 1,200 bumper cars a year with fifty employees.
  Michel Reverchon, still present in the production workshop, ceded his place to his son Philippe.

1992,

1997, Isabelle, the wife of Philippe, after several years of apprenticeship alongside Michel, developed her first body shape and named the model FURYO. The orders for this exceeded all their expectations.

The work accomplished by Gaston Reverchon International Design and its new team has allowed it to be confirmed today as the world market leader.
This year will be the 70th anniversary of the bumper car and Reverchon Design will celebrate its one hundred thousandth car in June!

The enterprising effort made by its current directors has allowed the reinforcement of the company’s presence regarding export, whilst guaranteeing a strong potential for export even further afield.

e.g.
• one quarter of all production is despatched to Germany,
• one quarter of all production is despatched to Asia,
• one quarter of all production is despatched to USA, Spain, GB and Benelux countries,
• one quarter of all production is despatched in France and to the rest of the world.

About fifty cars are loaded and despatched every week and whatever their destination, they are bound to delight old and young alike all over the planet, just as their creator wished, but did not dare to believe when, in his little garage, seventy years ago, he said modestly : “I only have luck that it works!...”.

Reverchon International Design, What a future!
The recent development of the North American and Asian markets means that REVERCHON INTERNATIONAL DESIGN has to get deeper involved with long distance export. New investments linked to the productivity of the SAMOIS factory and new infrastructures are on the point of being finalised in 1997.

2000, new car Karma

2002, new mini bump car with motor on te back. Halogen lights

To follow... N e w s