2023-10-01 16:03:00
The history of Véhicules Poncin began in 1976. A Bridges and Roads engineer created Ardennes Equipement in the eponymous department. Its company name? Manufacturing of construction machinery.
It was in 1980, when the company employed more than a hundred people, that Gilles Poncin, its creator, began the study and manufacture of lightweight all-terrain vehicles. The VP 2000 will be developed in 1981. VP for Poncin and 2000 vehicles because it has a futuristic design; Forty years later, this is no longer the case.
A machine for construction sites
Gilles Poncin’s goal is to be able to travel to any construction site. What follows is a 2.20 m long machine with a body forming a waterproof polyester hull with sharp corners. Everything is oversimplified; the machine has two seats and, immediately behind the two seats is the engine location.
The Poncin is powered by a well-known twin-cylinder: that of the 602 cm³ Citroën Dyane which develops 28 hp. The VP 2000 has six-wheel drive and can be equipped with tracks.
Ax hewn
It was not aesthetic concerns that led to the birth of the VP 2000 but rather its use; it must be effective in all circumstances, off-road and especially off-road since it is not approved on the road. Among the particular characteristics, the VP 2000 does not have a steering wheel; moreover, the wheels are not steered.
The VP 2000 drives like a tank or a bulldozer; a two-handle rudder allows one side to be blocked in order to turn the funny thing, including on itself.
Light and agile
The 28 hp of the engine is enough to power the 580 kg of the Poncin which has a four-speed mechanical gearbox plus reverse gear. It is powered by a 25 liter tank which allows an autonomy of 6 to 8 hours depending on the conditions of use.
The only counter in Poncin is graduated in hours! The VP 2000 will quickly experience success; thanks to its crossing capabilities, it will be found in ski resorts as a service vehicle but also in the fire brigade. It will also be exported to the United States. Soon, an eight-wheel derivative would be released under the name VP 3000.
A VP 2000 on the road
At the beginning of the 1980s, fashion brought out the buggy from the USA and the 4×4 for the joys of crossing. For the company, the problem of VP approval on the road arises. Poncin will then create a specific model which entirely incorporates the VP 2000 and its polyester body but the engine will be restricted to obtain a maximum speed of 25 km/h; it will be the VP 2025.
The administration requires the VP 2025 to travel on the road equipped with a rotating beacon… Given that speed is restricted, travel in an aquatic environment is also limited. 3 to 5 km/h maximum since it is the tire studs that make it move forward. As an option, Poncin will provide propellers but some owners will install outboard motors…
Rare machines
The VP 2025 will be little distributed compared to its ancestor VP 2000. Its price of more than 72,000 Francs in 1986 puts it in the price category of medium sedans; compared to the VP 2000, it is 25% more expensive with significantly lower performance.
On the other hand, the VP 2000 can still be found, particularly in auctions. The VP 2000 is an ideal machine on sand and lifeguards in the South West will use it. But at the beginning of the 90s, the situation changed and opportunities became rare; the VP 2000 adventure ended in 1991.
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