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.
Over 70 years serving
automotive locksmithing.
A French company based in Chatou, in the Yvelines, La Clé Rapide cuts, codes and reproduces automotive keys and locks since the golden age of the great French cars. From the Neiman steering lock to the chrome lock cylinders of the DS and the Dauphine, our workshop grew up with these cars that have now become classics. This know-how, passed down and tooled from generation to generation, we put at the service of collectors: code retrieval, reproduction without the original key, lock cylinder recoding, remanufacturing of unobtainable parts. Today, La Clé Rapide, part of the GenKeys group, operates across 6 European countries from its Chatou workshop.
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.
Our Classic catalogue brings together references compatible with classic and youngtimer models. A question about a specific model? Our workshop provides a quote within 1 business hour.
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?
Send us the reference, a photo of the key or the lock cylinder, and the code if it exists. Our workshop gets back to you within 1 business hour.