On Saturday 8 November an auction will be held in Lyons at the sumptuous Hôtel des Ventes des Brotteaux by Aguttes Auction House. The opening lots starting at 2.30pm consist of automobilia with a very nice collection of Dinky Toys, a good book collection of Ferrari interest, badges, pins,mascots, prints and posters and ending with an exceptional collection of childrens’ pedal cars. But before the cars start at 16.30pm, look at the 2-wheel offers. A wonderful Peugeot V-Twin Paris-Nice motorcycle from C 1913 is offered complete with sidecar all in ‘barn-find’ condition and retaining much original paint. Acquired by the grandfather of the current owner on the eve of the first world war, this bike has always been kept in the family property in Touraine. It is belt-driven via a 3-speed English Armstrong hub gear and will reward its next owner with race-bred provenance and pre-WWl authenticity.
Amongst the cars is a 1932 Delage D8 Landaulet Coupe Chauffeur Carrosserie Binder (Binder being the coachbuilder Henri Binder who also built the coachwork gracing the extraordinary Bugatti Royale Type 41 in the Schlumpf Collection) A contemporary motoring magazine tells us Delage means ”Hard work, diligence, constant search for perfection”. Not so much an example of engineering as a principle. Beneath the bonnet of this unique model is the 4 litre straight eight engine designed by chief engineer Maurice Gaultier and its low revving growl echoes seductively around the Connolly hide hood and roof.
Adolphe Clément-Bayard was a French entrepreneur. An orphan who became a blacksmith and a Compagnon du Tour de France, he went on to race and manufacture bicycles, pneumatic tyres, motorcycles, automobiles, aeroplanes and airships. This auction offers three of his cars, the earliest being a 1904 AC2 Double Phaeton which came from the Clément-Bayard family and still enjoys its glorious patina in original condition. This exceptional car participated in the inauguration of Eurotunnel rally in May 1994, selected to represent the year 1904 by the Automobile Club de France and the Royal Automobile Club in London, and you can guess who built the first airship to cross the channel! (In 1910).
The 1911 Clément Bayard CB 11 has been in the hands of the Clément-Bayard family from new and was used around the estate as a farm hack and to run local errands. It will need some work to get it running, but such a vehicle deserves to be preserved and used. The 1913 Clément Bayard 4M Cabriolet is smaller and lighter than its predecessors with a 1359cc engine cooled by water running through the radiator positioned behind the engine for protection, like the Renault AX and EK which found the Clément-Bayard serious competition for their market.
MG enthusiasts will be excited by the opportunity to acquire a 1934 supercharged J2 which comes with a full history folder of work done. Phoenix crank and Cosworth pistons verify the description ‘full race’ given to the 747cc engine and the marque specialist who completed the ground-up restoration will include a spare Volumex supercharger kit. Stiff competition for the MG J2 in the day was the Singer ‘Le Mans’ and this 1939 example has been beautifully restored after importation from Uruguay in 1995. Its 4-speed close ratio gearbox, hydraulic brakes and wire wheels hint at a very capable competition car.
(Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Aguttes Auction House)