Bernard Cournil began by converting surplus Jeeps for the small mixed farms of the Massif Central, which needed a four-wheel drive low and light enough for steep ground: a flat floor for milk churns, a power take-off, a hydraulic lift, a plough and a cutter bar. About 170 Hotchkiss-built Jeeps left his works with a diesel engine and his own transfer box before he replaced the Jeep chassis with his own in 1960. Registered with the Mines as the Tracteur Cournil type JA1, it could be driven without a car licence.
The JA2 of 1964 took the Leyland O.E. 138 diesel and a differential lock. The firm failed in 1970 and Bernard’s son Alain built 53 more before the rights were split in 1977 between Gevarm for France and UMM of Portugal for the rest of the world.
Jeep conversions (1954–1960)
1 VEHICLE IN THIS CHAPTERHotchkiss JH Jeeps fitted with the Hotchkiss-built Ferguson diesel and Cournil’s transfer box, under a Willys assembly licence of 1954.
Registry records · chapter 1
JA1 (1960–1964)
2 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTERCournil’s own frame from 1960, the sloping-bonnet body from 1961 and the 2,088 cc Standard 23C diesel.
Registry records · chapter 2
JA2 (1964–1977)
1 VEHICLE IN THIS CHAPTERThe Leyland O.E. 138 diesel and a differential lock from 1964, Land Rover and Ricardo diesels later, and 53 vehicles built by Alain Cournil in 1971–77.
Registry records · chapter 3
Base models
The structural configurations the registry and the Creator build from; each page carries the researched specification.Sources
- Cournil — Wikipedia
- Cournil — Wikipédia
- Cournil Tractor — Unusual Off-Road Locomotion (Jean-Marc Maclou)
- Cournil JA2 — Journal du 4x4