What did you do with your holidays? At WMH, the WM Historique association, which set out on 9 July 2019 to rebuild the first prototype of the Welter-Meunier duo dating from 1970, the holidays were very studious! The WMH association was set up in September 2019 to get down to work!
A large part of the team turned the hands of the alarm clock to 6 o’clock every morning, including weekends, to begin the last – and by no means least – stage in the rebuilding of the WM P70 from scratch this summer.
LIGNES/auto regulars will be familiar with the WM P70. For newcomers, Gérard Welter – who joined Peugeot styling in 1960 under Paul Bouvot – and his colleague Michel Meunier first designed a competition machine based on a 204, the WM P69, in 1969.
The following year saw the birth of a 100% new prototype: the WM P70 above. Its design was innovative and the machine had extraordinary proportions. To put it in perspective, it is only 86 centimetres high (!), the same height as Marcello Gandini’s prototype presented the same year: the Bertone Stratos Zero below left.
The WM P70 is a very compact prototype, measuring just 3.37 m long and 1.69 m wide. Its tubular chassis is fitted with a bonded composite monocoque, and the ‘sponsor’ Araldite on its sides, above, confirms this!
Its innovative design makes the WMP70 a car built for performance – the driver must be satisfied with having his buttocks just a few millimetres from the tarmac – and the aerodynamics with its truncated rear contribute to this performance as much as its featherweight of 505 kg. Not to mention the evolution of the Peugeot 304 S powertrain, which has been uprated to 130 bhp with an all-new 5-speed gearbox.
The WMP70 has made a number of competitive appearances, including on the Montlhéry circuit, where you will be able to see this car rebuilt from scratch this weekend (12-13 October https://festival-centenaire-autodrome-linas-montlhery.eventmaker.io/fr/ ).
Reconstructed, but how? By restoring the original? No, because the 1970 prototype no longer exists. So the first step was reverse engineering, i.e. reconstructing the car digitally, step by step, based on existing photos and, above all, on the technical data sheets that precisely described the definition of the car and its components. A mammoth task…
It wasn’t just a question of producing the bodywork in 3D, but of digitising all the parts, their positioning and their adjustment in their environment (particularly in terms of the engine compartment…) so that they could be fitted as they were in 1970. This is undoubtedly one of the WMH team’s proudest achievements: to have rebuilt the WM P70 exactly as it was!
As for the rest, the 2024 prototype has been given a new lease of life thanks to a team who worked as Gérard Welter and Michel Meunier did over half a century ago: with many sacrifices and one ultimate goal, to bring this prototype back to life in memory of Gérard Welter and Michel Meunier. These two, wherever they may be, will be proud of the work they have accomplished.
Indeed, you can’t help but admire this long journey of almost five years! The WM P70 is now ready and will be on display at the centenary of the Montlhéry circuit. The adventure doesn’t stop there, however, as this identically rebuilt prototype is due to be entered in a number of historic competitions, including the Tour Auto, in which the original took part, as well as Le Mans Classic. Those are the goals! So it’s going to be a case of setting the alarm very early on some (many) mornings…
The photos taken by the WMH team were taken before the prototype was finalised. But everything is in place to restore the WM P70 to its original appearance: the numbers 77, in reference to the department where the WM team’s bases were located, are ready (above) to be fitted, along with the name of one of the drivers, Philippe de Souza.
Gérard Welter’s career and the rebirth of the WM P70 in pictures below (video)
ORHES RACING, headed by Salim Bouziane, is passionate about this project and gave WMH the use of its premises and facilities. Its teams, in particular François, José and Alex, provided invaluable assistance with the engine and with the finishing and painting of the bodywork. This project was made possible thanks to the above partners, but also to the donors and personal helpers who came forward, all the way to Holland.
