JIDE GT2: light blue rally version

JIDE GT2: light blue rally version in Andorra (Pyrenees)

Jacques Durand (28 June 1920 – 16 August 2009) was a French engineer, model builder and automobile designer. He is primarily known for designing several sports cars, which were built in small volumes in France beginning in the 1950s and continuing into the 1990s.

Following the end of his time at Sovam, Jacques Durand moved to a town near Parthenay to develop a new sports coupe of his own that was based on the R8 Gordini engine and transaxle.

For this car Durand resurrected the Jidé name that he had used for his earliest model engines. The Jidé car was a small hardtop two-seat coupé with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The chassis was steel and the fibreglass body was bonded directly to it. Suspension was independent at all four wheels and braking was provided by four disc brakes. Power came from an assortment of Renault engines, including the ones used in the R8, R8 Gordini, and R12. The car was sold in either kit or assembled forms.

In 1973, having build just under 100 cars, Jacques Durand sold the Jidé brand and moved on to his next project.

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