Never seen the bouquet of Lyon? Here's a bouquet of grand marques to be found in the Aguttes auction being held at the Hôtel des ventes Lyon Brotteaux in Lyons on saturday 21 March. The 1914 Metz Speedster has an interesting background. After taking over the Waltham Company (the Massachusetts-based business which made the Orient Buckboard ) Metz offered his customers a scheme to buy their car in a series of 14 packages costing $25 each so that they could build it themselves. The design was a 12 HP 2 cylinder roadster with friction transmission and double chain drive, “No clutch to slip, no gears to strip”. By 1912 the company supplied complete cars, with 2.9 litre engine and retaining its novel transmission arrangement. This 1914 model takes our fancy and is easy to imagine bowling along at 50 mph with the sun glinting off its royal blue coachwork with no glitz and no bling, listening to the wonderful sounds emanating from this rare delightful machine.
The 1925 La Buire 10A was made in Lyons, France by a company with a background making railways and trams which explains the car’s strong appearance – it enjoys a reputation for robustness, speed and silence of operation. The 1860 cc OHV 4 cylinder engine sits behind the distinctive radiator bearing the bold La Buire badge between a pair of fine Ducellier headlights. Altogether a car of beauty, quality and comfort. The 1928 Voisin C11 brings us to a different level of automotive excellence. We enjoyed seeing several Voisins up close at Montlhéry last year and learned just how rare and extraordinary these cars are. This example has a moleskin covered body over Weyman style wood frame which reminds us of Voisin’s roots in aviation and his need for lightness with wood and aluminium. The 2.3 litre 6 cylinder engine adds good performance to its beautiful original state and luxurious interior.
A 1939 Talbot 120 Major 3L is offered at half the Voisin’s estimate and yet offers complete satisfaction to the discerning motorist. The 3 litre engine OHV drives through a 4-speed Wilson pre-selector gearbox and will propel this elegant sleek French saloon at 140kph. The 1937 Delahaye 135M has Cabriolet body by Chapron and understandably carries an estimate up there with the Voisin. "The Motor" wrote: "Few cars offer such road-holding, such handling and such performance." Praise indeed and richly deserved. The last decade has seen restoration carried out to a high standard and the 20HP six-cylinder engine coupled to a 4-speed Cotal gearbox will ensure a memorable driving experience in a car described as ‘…strong, resilient, luxurious and sporty’ and whose beautiful appearance explains why this model is particularly sought-after.
A very modest estimate accompanies an unusual 1932 Standard Swallow Little Nine – the Swallow part identifying the coachwork from Coventry which later evolved into Jaguar. The copy of this elegant body was restored to a high standard by the previous owner who had it for 30 years. The 1100cc engine and 4-speed gearbox will give performance which might also be described as modest, but this pretty 4-seater saloon , with sun roof, will offer lots of fun to its new owner.
(Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Aguttes)