The classic car workshop
Keys, lock cylinders and steering locks for the cars that made history. From the mechanical key of the 1950s to youngtimers, La Clé Rapide reproduces, codes and restores what manufacturers no longer supply.
Depuis 1957 au service
de la serrurerie automobile.
Maison française installée à Chatou, dans les Yvelines, La Clé Rapide taille, code et reproduit les clés et serrures de l'automobile depuis l'âge d'or des grandes françaises. De l'antivol Neiman aux barillets chromés des DS et des Dauphine, notre atelier a grandi avec ces voitures devenues aujourd'hui des classiques. Ce savoir-faire, transmis et outillé de génération en génération, nous le mettons au service des collectionneurs : relevé de code, reproduction sans clé d'origine, recodage de barillet, refabrication de pièces introuvables. Aujourd'hui, La Clé Rapide, du groupe GenKeys, rayonne dans 6 pays européens depuis son atelier de Chatou.
years of workshop
Expertise handed down since the first mechanical keys.
the Neiman era
Steering column immobilizers are becoming standard: our technical roots.
without the original
Stamped code, lock cylinder, impressioning: we recover the key.
Classic or youngtimer?
Classic vehicle
30 years and older, type no longer reproduced, original condition preserved. Collector registration document issued via the FFVE certificate then the ANTS. Technical inspection every 5 years, driving permitted in low-emission zones.
Youngtimer
Between 20 and 30 years old, the « pre-collectible ». No legal status yet, but already icons: 205 GTI, R5 Turbo, BMW E30, 190 E, Golf GTI, Delta Integrale. Often still on a mechanical key or first-generation transponder.
Classic car keys & locks:
what you need to know.
Before 1995: no chip
Most older models have a purely mechanical key. No electronic programming, a simple reproduction is enough.
Make a spare while there's still time
A spare key avoids everything. The simplest and cheapest case remains copying an existing one.
Without any original
We cut to code (stamped on the key, the lock cylinder or the ownership card), or we read the combination by dismantling the Neiman.
The key blank, the real sticking point
On a classic, the key profile can be rare or out of catalog. We check its availability first (Silca, JMA, Keyline).
Lock cylinders nowhere to be found
No longer manufactured for many models: recoding of a compatible lock cylinder to the original dimensions, or custom craftsmanship.
Proof of ownership
Vehicle registration document + ID required before any duplication. That's the rule, and we anticipate it together.
The keys to your icons.
Notre catalogue Classic rassemble les références compatibles avec les modèles anciens et youngtimers. Une question sur un modèle précis ? Notre atelier établit un devis sous une heure ouvrée.
Clubs & federations.
The enthusiasts who keep classic motoring alive in France. Joining a club means access to parts, advice and outings.
The major events.
Trade shows, rallies and concours d'élégance where you'll find the finest classics. Indicative dates, to be confirmed on the official websites.
A classic-car key to remake?
Envoyez-nous la référence, une photo de la clé ou du barillet, et le code s'il existe. Notre atelier revient vers vous sous une heure ouvrée.