Classic Motor Hub
By Appointment Gloucestershire
1913 PICCARD-PICTET MIII 20/30HP - Sole Surviving Example For Sale
- One of a kind “Swiss Rolls-Royce”
- Believed to be the only one in existence
- Long-term ownership history in Argentina
Piccard Pictet was Switzerland’s only automobile manufacturer. Prior to producing motorcars Piccard Pictet were best known as hydraulic engineers who specialised in manufacturing mechanical devices, machinery and turbines in their workshop in Geneva. The company began producing motorcars more by chance than by decision. In 1904 brothers Charles and Frédéric Dufaux wanted to build their own race car for the Gordon Bennet event but lacked the necessary tooling to build precision parts for the engine and gearbox and so approached Piccard Pictet to build the car.
However, the elderly Paul Piccard did not believe in the future of the Automobile which was still in its infancy and so resisted the idea of turning the company’s focus to producing cars and it was left to Lucien Pictet, brother of a banker of considerable means to enlighten the elderly Piccard of the potential of personal motorised transport. While Pictet ultimately succeeded in persuading Piccard there remained friction in the company structure and so a separate company Société d’Automobiles de Genève who produced cars under licence. After being appointed Managing Director of SAG, Pictet travelled to Barcelona to meet with fellow Swiss Marc Birkigt of Hispano-Suiza. Pictet had long admired Hispano-Suiza’s cars and had an ambition to make the cars more Swiss than Spanish and so negotiated a licence agreement to produce 120 chassis at 300 Swiss Francs per car. This agreement brought the company a steady income but no doubt hampered their own development designs.
When the Hispano-Suiza contract came to an end in 1909 Piccard Pictet began trading under their own name once again and were now free to pursue their own engineering philosophy. Their cars very quickly became thought of as a Swiss Rolls Royce with the same attention to detail, quality and reputation for reliability. Despite their comparatively small output Piccard Pictet were right at the forefront of automotive development and were one of the first companies to recognise the benefits in refinement of the single-sleeve valve design and signed a licence agreement to produce the a engine design with Scottish manufacturers Argyll. By 1913 Pic Pic as they had now become affectionately known had earned such a good reputation that the Swiss Army placed an order for a large number of Pic Pics that were still in service in the late 1930s.
The Pic Pic we have for sale here is an incredibly original 1913 20/ 30 model and is believed to be the only one in existence. The previous owner, Mr Adam bought the car in 1957 and transported it to his hometown of La Plata in Argentina. Mr Adam bought the car with the intention of dismantling the rear section so he could install a loud speaker and drive around the streets of La Plata to advertise his business. Unfortunately for Mr Adam the local council banned the practise of promoting business by public audio system in public areas and so the Pic Pic was saved. Having never been intended for personal use, the car remained in the warehouse of the family business long after Mr Adam’s death in 1969 and was eventually bought in barn-find condition by the owner in 2016. Since then the Pic Pic has been re-assembled, dusted off and remains in original condition with no alterations or restoration since it left the factory 105 years ago.
Being the only Swiss manufactured car and remaining in preservation condition, this remarkable Pic Pic represents a fantastic opportunity to own an important piece of automotive history.
This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
Please see the list below for similar live adverts.
Car & Classic Auctions
View all auctionsSimilar Adverts
Original 1961 Ferrari 250GTE Series I 2+2 by Pininfarina with Matching Numbers This 1961 Ferrari 250GTE Series I 2+2 by Pininfarna is an extremely original matching numbers example that's been sitting in storage patiently awaiting straightforward restoration. Attractive black over burgundy leather interior. An unrestored ...
- 27 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
This Spyder is handbuilt and has a 1583cc engine. Fully alloy body. 356 elements. TRADES OFFERS WELCOME. WE WILL CONSIDER ANY PROPOSITION Contact us for more information.
- 25 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
Perfect state. hartop european origin rust free worldwide shipping possible you can visit if you want it drives and handles without problem, a delight to drive this car.
- 48,000
- 23 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
This Cherished Registration Number is held on a DVLA V750 Certificate of Entitlement / V778 Retention Certificate and is valid for 10 years and is ready to transfer onto a vehicle when you wish. Please note that the price is subject to VAT (20%) and the compulsory DVLA £80 transfer fee. Once full payment has been ...
- 23 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes
KOMBI SAFÁRI KARMANN GHIA - YEAR 1982 - RELIC! VEHICLE DESCRIPTION Volkswagen Kombi BRAND: Karmann Ghia MODEL: Safari ASSEMBLY YEAR: 1982 CHASSIS YEAR: 1982 ACCOMMODATIONS: 4 people Additional Information KOMBI SAFÁRI KARMANN GHIA - YEAR 1982 - RELIC! VEHICLE COLLECTOR'S BLACK PLATE. IMPECCABLE! Only ...
- 23 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
“Spains fabulous flying horse”. The Pegaso automobile was a supercar developed in Spain under the supervision of Enasa (Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones, SA), a National company that produced buses and trucks. Under the direction of Pegaso was Mr. Wilfredo Ricart, a visionary Spanish engineer from the developing ...
- 15 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
Two Bettle 1966 and 1968
- 23 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
We are delighted to be able to offer for sale this incredibly rare Canadian Specification Land Rover 90 Soft Top 1994 Model. It is finished in Portofino Red, which was one of the five colours offered on this model at the time of its launch. It was ordered from the then Land Rover dealer in Vancouver, known as MCL Motor ...
- 1,400
- 23 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes
MOKE Electric 2023 Sunlight Yellow Automatic -Range 75 miles -4 Hour Charge -Max Speed 55mph -Automatic -Great Marketing Vehicle -Bluetooth Music -2-year Warranty (3 years for the battery). -ISOFIX Seats for child seats. Your MOKE comes with a 2-year warranty (3 years for the battery). We recommended having ...
- 30
- 22 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes
1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible This car just came in.More information and additional pictures will follow as soon as possible.For more information you should contact us.US Import, This car already has been imported in the European Union.All import taxes and fees are already paid for.The car has a US Title and EU ...
- 102,529
- 22 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
Simca 9 Sport Red very original car with some periodic options Simca 9 Sport Blue ,with 2 single carburatorset and very clean old restauration Simca Aronde 1951 preserie very unic Very Unic cars Both eglible for Mille Miglia Rally - Tour Auto & more ...
- 21 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
Picton speed boat ,with good trailer ,not sure of year ,also boat cover ,no engine hence £1550
- 21 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes
Project: Berna was a Swiss manufacturer of busses and lorries and existed form 1965 to 1978. This Berna 5U 550 T2LM-K is in exceptional original condition with only 395,000 km on the clock. The tipper has 3 axles which allows for backward and both left and right sideways tipping. The chassis is completely original and ...
- 395,323
- 21 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
Private Registration - 7 Numbers All On Retention Certificates - AJ 9791 £5000 - CR 2572 £4000 - LAD 920 £3000 - DKB 752 £2500 - KHH 700 £4000 - XXO 232 £1000 - ML 6216 £4000 Total £23,500 Sell as Job Lot or Single
- 20 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes
MOKE Electric 2023 Wave Blue Automatic -Range 75 miles -4 Hour Charge -Max Speed 55mph -Automatic -Great Marketing Vehicle -Bluetooth Music -2-year Warranty (3 years for the battery). -ISOFIX Seats for child seats. Your MOKE comes with a 2-year warranty (3 years for the battery). We recommended having ...
- 30
- 19 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes
Hilton & Moss are pleased to bring this beautiful Mercedes-Benz (W121) 190SL to the market. The 190SL model was produced from May 1955 to 1963 making this a particularly early example first registered in the US in February 02 1956. This means that this vehicle is fitted with the rare (W198) 300SL bucket style seats. This ...
- 95,000
- 19 Mar 2024
- Compare:
- Insurance quotes
- Finance Quotes