Description
This car is Lot 126 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Sale on 6 February, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Tuesday 4 February from 08:00 until 18:00 and Wednesday 5 February from 9 AM - 6 PM, at The Grand Palais Historique, Paris.
Lot 126
1925 Amilcar CGS3
Registration no.
Chassis no. SA1708
One of the most original examples preserved of its model
History known since the 1960s
Recent mechanical refurbishment including Cozette supercharger
Spanish registration document
By the mid 1920s Amilcar was widely recognized as the most successful of all cyclecar marques. Given its big success, the brand was involved in a continuous renovation of its catalogue, which included the new CGS launched at the 1923 Paris Salon as 1924 model. The biggest innovation of this new model was the employ of front Wheel brakes, and from 1925 a new pressure fed engine with a vane-pump was mounted on all CGS cars. Shortly after the new CGS3 model was launched in April 1925, and it was in fact a CGS with a chassis a bit longer in order to give room to a 3rd seat in the back of the pointed body, hence the "3" of its denomination.
Since the early 1920s one of the markets where the Amilcars were being sold better was Spain, whose importer and dealer for most of the regions was the Madrid-based Frenchman Jean Mauvais. He used to take the wheel himself at many races held in Spain in period, achieving many triumphs. His headquarters were located at the very center of Madrid, specifically at the Number 8 of Serrano Street. According to its catalogue from July 1925, the CGS3 model was priced at 9. 250 pesetas. Shortly after the first units arrived to Madrid, a CGS3 unit was presented by Mauvais at the Royal Palace, in order to be tried by King Alfonso XIII and his son, Prince Don Jaime. The Spanish Monarch, a great car enthusiast, drove the car at great speed and was truly impressed by the performance of the little machine; so much that an appreciation letter was sent the 3th March 1926 from the Royal Garages to the Amilcar factory. The letter, which was published by Mauvais in his newspaper advertisements, was written by the Chief Engineer of the Royal Palace Garages. Among other details, was mentioned that during the test drive the King Alfonso XIII reached a top speed of 115 km/ h, and despite the blown of one of the front tyres at high speed, the car could be kept safely on the road.
The motorcar presented, registered in Madrid in the year 1925, is one of the most original units preserved of the Amilcar CGS3 Type, including all its machined alluminium bodywork, cycle type wings and front aerodynamic "Type Eldridge" grille. It is part of the first series of the CGS3 which still included the small oil sump used in the CGS models. The early history of this car remains unclear, but it is known that in the postwar years it was used by an Airforce Army Captain of the "Matacán Air Base", located in Salamanca. The Spanish pioneering enthusiast Mr. Demetrio Gomez Planche, also based in Salamanca and owner already of other 3 Amilcars by time, was able to rescue the car in March 1965 from a Salamanca scrapyard to where the car had been sent when the Air Base was cleaned up.
The car was incredibly original and complete, with the exception of being fitted with a more modern pressed-steel set of wheels. Mr. Gomez Planche restored the car mechanically during 1965-1967, and as soon as the car was ready it was extensively used in rallyes accross Spain and Portugal during the coming decades. The car was refitted with a period set of wheels, and included a very interesting feature: a period mechanical servo-assisted brake located in the front end of the engine bay, behind the radiator.
The car was still in good running order in the late 1980s, and it was featured in one of the very first issues of the Spanish magazine "Motor Clasico" (Issue 16, May 1989). By the mid 1990s the car saw very little use, and it was finally put in storage in the early 2000s, when the dream of Mr. Gomez Planche come true; in 2002 the "Salamanca Automobie Museum" opened its doors. All the cars from the very big and interesting collection of Mr. Gomez Planche went to the museum, including his 4 Amilcars. The car offered here spent around 20 years exhibited in the museum as one of the main attractions, but it was never started.
Finally, around two years ago the current owner, also a very important Spanish collector, was able to purchase the car, which finally left the museum on its way to the French workshop "L'Atelier La Belle Epoque". The external appearance was kept as it was, with its incredible patina, while the mechanics were totally stripped down, checked and refurbished. During this recent restoration was also included a Cozette supercharger Nº7 replica manufactured by "L'Atelier La Belle Epoque", which for sure increases the performances of this very unique Amilcar.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
