Engine parts and Alépoc, a long family history

You who are discovering Alépoc and all the catalog For the vintage cars we offer, you might wonder where this passion comes from. So, we'll recount the story that led to the creation of this online shop, and it begins a long time ago !

Roger Bat, the Corrector

At the very beginning, we must talk about Roger Bat. As a young man during the Second World War, he was enrolled in the Chantiers de Jeunesse, a program that replaced military service for young men in the free zone and North Africa. It was during this period that he discovered mechanics in a general sense, as well as automotive mechanics. He developed a passion for this activity and, at the end of the conflict, decided to make it his profession.

He therefore founded his grinding workshop in Auch in the Gers and gradually he expands his business. In addition to machining crankshafts or cylinder heads, he becomes a distributor of engine parts from major brands.Renault, , Citroën, , Peugeot, , Simca,...). For the cylinders and pistons, it is particularly the products of Nova and Bretille that can be found on the shelves of Roger Bat. Bearings are expanding, and our grinder becomes a distributor of parts from the Société Française des Coussinets Minces and Vandervell. The range is completed by Demolin / Aelite valves, SIM segments, Red Segments or Goetze, and Curty / Payen gasket sets.

All these engine parts are primarily intended to be mounted on popular French cars, the traditional ones. Renault, , Citroën, , Peugeot and Simca, but also some foreign ones. There were pieces for Fiat or Ford and engine parts of trucks and of tractors which constituted a significant part of the workshop's activity.

A certain flair for collecting

Roger Bat became interested in vintage cars very early on. Collectible cars were not the same as they are today, but as early as the 1950s, he gathered a few "pieces" as he called them.

This is how one could see at his place a 1905 Sizaire and Naudin Monocylinder, one of the famous Taxis de la Marne from 1908, and a "more recent" UNIC L1 Torpedo from 1924. Restored with the same skill he applied to his regular work, sometimes over several years, these cars became competition pieces.

Obviously, as time went by, cars from the 1900s were replaced by more recent ones. Cars from the 50s and 60s entered his garage and also received quality restorations, utilizing the large stock of engine parts at his disposal.

This life of passion for beautiful mechanics came to an end at the beginning of 2018, but the bug was passed on !

The adventure Alépoc

Upon the passing of his father, it is now Christian Bat's turn to want to connect with vintage machinery. He did not have the same professional career, but the passion for racing cars, and subsequently for classic collectible cars, has always been a part of him.

He therefore decided to revive the sale of engine parts for vintage cars with Alépoc. In addition to the online store Alépoc which you find today, there is a physical retail location situated at 116 Avenue de la 1ère Armée in Auch. Where so many machines were able to start again thanks to the work and engine parts of Roger Bat.

Alépoc is therefore launched, and you can find on the site the immense stock of new vintage engine parts left by Roger Bat, as well as related products.oils and lubricants, , tools, , batteries and cleaning product such as penetrating oil, paint, and rust converter) to pamper as many vehicles as possible.

Furthermore, Christian Bat, well assisted by his son Grégoire, it truly runs in the family, is working to gather other parts for vintage cars so that you can find them with Alépoc to also restore magnificent "pieces" yourself.