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The rare Le Mans Classic

How could you see in our chronicle of last week Le Mans Classic has become a first-class event, on a par with even the well-known Goodwoods or similar English ones.

This has undoubtedly a positive effect not only in terms of the jewels that we will see passing at high speeds through the mythical circuit, but also in that more and more clubs, companies and fans attend. to show off their best saddles in the parkines and around the circuit.

And it is here that we are going to focus, on the oddities that we can find around the circuit ... although within this there are also cars that would be almost impossible to identify without the help of a specialized book.

Curious Talbot Lago with Facel bodywork from the 50s, former participant in the original Le Mans
Stunning convertible FWB bus from 1929 of Swiss origin
1- Curious Talbot Lago with Contamin bodywork, former participant in 24 Hours
2- Very old convertible FWB bus from 1929 of Swiss origin

For example, every year several buses of the alpine brand FWB come from Switzerland so that spectators can see the route "from within". The options are varied, as you can choose from a very old convertible “tourer” model from 1929 to models from the late 50s.

We could also use rare French buses loaned by local clubs, like a slightly aesthetic Renault Goelette from the early 50s.

In the outdoor area dedicated to specialists, there were many renowned and high-priced pieces in search of wealthy “gentlemans” who would come to the circuit not only to compete, but maybe to leave with something else under his arm.

A 250 GT TDF at that price? It must have been a -very good- replica
A Jaguar MKVI built by Graber in Switzerland in the early 50s. A unique piece
1- A 250 GT TDF at that price? It must have been a -very good- replica
2- A unique Jaguar MKVI built by Graber in Switzerland in the early 50s

The star was undoubtedly the Ferrari 250 GT TDF Boano from the mid-50s, perfectly restored and with a curious silver color that in my modest opinion favored it a lot. This is not difficult to identify, but its price of "only" 499.000 euros makes us think that it was a replica.

Hunted at auction and exhibition

Returning to the rarities, inside the tent that the Artcurial auction house had set up we could find some other units unknown to the common fan: as remarkable and unique, a Lancia Aprilia Pininfarina from the early 50s and a Jaguar MKVI bodied in Switzerland by Graber at the same time.

Among the branded clubs stood out the robust and sporty Hotchkiss, brand undeservedly unknown in our country, especially if we take into account that it is the one with the highest number of consecutive victories in the Rallye Monte Carlo.

Elegant Hotchkiss 686 Cabourg, a car with a pedigree in rallies of the 30s, 40s and 50s
Curious 50s Panhard Dyna with air-cooled twin-cylinder engine
1- Elegant Hotchkiss 686 Cabourg, a car with a pedigree in rallies of the 30s, 40s and 50s
2- Curious Panhard Dyna from the 50s with air-cooled twin-cylinder engine

Not far from these, the Panhard club featured various units from the 50s with their distinctive aerodynamic design and air-cooled twin-cylinder engines.

Also very noteworthy was the exhibition dedicated to the French bodywork where you could see well why once the Gallic car achieved such a reputation for quality and style. In this we could see the inevitable Bugatti, Talbot-Lago, Panhard-Levassor or Salmson from different times.

In addition, some brands - even more - unknown to the general public: A Hotchkiss-Gregoire from the 50s, with an aluminum monocoque body and a boxer engine located in front of the front axle. Also, a little Lombard from the 20s, with a rabid 1.100 cc engine and double overhead camshaft… and bodied like a gentrified coupe!

Interesting Lombard sports car from the 20s
Hotchkiss Gregoire from 1955
Voisin C11 from 1928
1- Very interesting Lombard sports car from the 20s
2- Hotchkiss Gregoire, French aluminum bodywork
3- Voisin C11 from 1928 in a state of preservation

Also striking was an Avions-Voisin C11 saloon from the 20s in an exquisite state of preservation, still showing some dent and completely lackluster paint which only increased the already striking model.

THE TANK

The top rarity for this group went to the tiny 1925 Chenard & Walker Tank, a vehicle of great historical significance. These aesthetic models, let's say “debatable”, proved in a pioneering way that not only the power of the engine was important, but also the aerodynamics.

When they appeared on the circuits in 1925 they were branded as aberrations, but they triumphed incontestably in the category below 1.500cc in events such as Le Mans or our Lasarte Grand Prix, in San Sebastian.

The Chenard Walker Tank of 1925: more important than it seems, even for Spanish automobile history
Attractive Lancia Appia Zagato from the 50s
1- Chenard Walker Tank from 1925: more important than it seems
2- Attractive Lancia Appia Zagato from the 50s

It is also important that at the controls of one of these devices a Spanish driver, Manso de Zúñiga, triumphed for the first time at Le Mans. And it is that walking there anywhere we could find a car remarkable for its quality and rarity.

All you have to do is see the 50s Lancia Appia Zagato parked casually among several more modern Lancia, or the magnificent 1937 Riley Sprite ... or the tiny Morgan-style motorized trike that a father had built for his lucky offspring, which I used to drive it around the paddock.

Riley Sprite from 1937
Scale replica of Morgan Threewheeler
1- Magnificent Riley Sprite from 1937
2- Scale replica of Threewheeler

As is inevitable, every so often the roar of some mechanics made us look back to the circuit ... Sometimes to see something unknown. In the photos you can see the strange "aerodynamic" HRG from the 40s, of English origin, or the Talbot Lago from 1948 disguised under a strange Contamin body that already participated in Le Mans in its youth.

Or the hundreds of trays of different sizes and types: Italian Osca, Anglo-American Jaguar-Lister, French DB and Matra-Bonnet… all of them with strange shapes and sometimes with unique bodywork. A spectacle for the sight and the ear that unfortunately we still cannot enjoy in our country.

At Le Mans, a large number of DB trailers of different styles and years could be seen
The thunderous Jaguar-Lister of the 50s
1- At Le Mans, a large number of DB trailers could be seen
2- The thunderous Jaguar-Lister of the 50s comes out of the chicane

 

Photo gallery, BY UNAI ONA


 

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Written by Francisco Carrion

My name is Francisco Carrión and I was born in Ciudad Real in 1988, a place that was not at first akin to vintage cars. Fortunately my grandfather, dedicated to the automotive sector, had friends who owned veteran cars and participated in the annual rally that was held (and continues to be held) in my hometown ... Read more

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