Classic Cars

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Prototype AFG VS Mathis 333


Aluminium everywhere for both

Air cooled flat-twin for AFG, water cooled with 2 radiators for Mathis

Special feature AFG : rear bending strength suspension
Special feature Mathis 333 : co-axial cylinders

AFG aluminium melted carcass is of Alpax

3 liter by 100 kilometers ; 3 seats ; 3 wheels

Jean Andreau, the aerodynamician engineer who "commited" Mathis 333!

 

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Panhard Dyna, a distant cousin of the prototype AFG


The license of the Gr?goire prototype is sold to Panhard who is allowed to develop it as he wishes it. Sure, all is remade except the global form and the front axle.

Named VP2 then Dyna, some say also Dyna X or even Louis XV !

Exhibited at Paris motorshow 1946

Six torsion bars at the rear and a simple frame of steel instead of the melted carcass. Always some aluminium for the body that has four doors.

 

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Villa d'Este elegance contest 2022


The event is sponsored by BMW

Aston Martin Bulldog

Aston Martin DB4 GT

Bugatti 57S Vanvooren

Cadillac sixty-two sedan 1959

Ferrari 250 GT Zagato

Ferrari 288 GTO

Lamborghini Miura SV

Mercedes 300 SL

 

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"A new look at Rolls-Royce motoring", an amazing doent published in 1964


To modernize the image of its old Silver Cloud III, waiting for the next Silver Shadow, the prestigious constructor asked to the pilot Tony Brooks to try the model.

First, on the Goodwood circuit for a merciless test

Second, a long road trip in France. The eventual customer must understand that driving a Rolls-Royce is easy in any cirstance.

Recent Mercedes 600 is a serious competitor for the Silver Cloud III

 

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Jean Daninos (1906 - 2001) before the Facel Vega


Jean Daninos began at Citro?n as designer at the bodies department in 1928.
He is photographied there in front of his modified roadster C6.
Below, a beautiful cabriolet Rosalie 15 transformed by Jean Daninos for his personal use.

Forty years after Jean Daninos is redrawing the coup? Traction. He participated for the draw but, really, Flaminio Bertoni designed all the bodies of the Traction. (photo above)


1939 : Foundation of Facel (Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure et Loir)
1945 : Joint venture with Metallon, we get Facel-Metallon
1953 : Partition Facel SA and Metallon SA
Before to become a constructor, Facel was a body sub-contractor for several firms (automobile and aviation)


Facel made the aluminium body of the Dyna Panhard (45000 units)



Simca Sport first version derived from Simca 8

Simca Sport second version derived from Simca 9 Aronde

Starting 1955, Simca Sport is named Coup? de Ville or Week-End according the version.

Actress Brigitte Bardot posing in front of the cabriolet Week-End

 

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In 1956, Simca Plein Ciel replace the Coup? de Ville always on Aronde base.

Same to the Week-End that become Oc?ane

This Plein Ciel and Oc?ane front face is only the one of the model 59!
In 1961, these two Aronde versions are stopped by Simca. The following year, Simca 1000 coup? is made by Bertone in Italy. Jean Daninos is annoyed, especially because, at the same time, he has a lot of problems with his last model Facellia.

Ford Com?te (Ford SAF 1951) derived from the Vedette

Ford Monte-Carlo derived from the Vend?me (1954)

Bentley Cresta

Bentley 4.5 liter, a single unit that announce the future Facel Vega

The roof of of the first Facel Vega is like the one of the Bentley.

Jean Daninos was the brother of Pierre Daninos, the writer who published "Les carnets du Major Thompson" in 1954, the year of the Facel Vega appearence. Comete, Vega, the writer found the models name.

 

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The missed launch of Citro?n Visa


Paris motorshow 1978 : Elderly people is interested by this new Citro?n that could replace their old 2CV, Dyane or Ami. But the constructor would like to get a larger market.

WTF ? wonders the visitor shocked by the bad plastic finition and the flashy interior of the Visa.
"It is a car" answers Citro?n in the magazine ads.

Behind the wheel, the satellite (wellknown by the Citro?n drivers of this age) group all the controls.

Above, Visa Super powered by Peugeot 104 engine.
Below, Visa Special, powered by a motor flat-twin derived from Ami 8

Super E and Super X, two versions added in 1980

 

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Visa metamorphose from the excentric Citro?n to the classic Peugeot


Visa selling don't grow. Some esthetical alterations are necessary say dealerships who meet a lot of difficulties with this model. From 1981, radiator gril, front bumper and rear lights are modified. The look is changing, the car seem wider now.

In rally, Visa replace CX for modernizing the model image. Visa Chrono is presented in 1982 with a powerful 104 motor of 93 HP. It is only a beginning.

More "highscale" than the Chrono, the Visa GT.

Rare Visa decapotable

1984, Visa Diesel : Front axle and mechanical come from Peugeot 205 Diesel. It explain plastic things on the front fenders.

1985, the famous satellite is replaced by some ordinary controls. Only the flat-twin typical sound of a downscale model give a Citro?n touch.

Front axle and motor 1.6 liter of the Peugeot 205 GTI for the Visa GTI, 105 then 115 HP. Diesel or GTI, these Visa versions are like some 205 low cost.

Here is the Visa development, more and more close from a Peugeot model.
Good thing for the marketing.

 

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Some years after the Ami 6, Citro?n Visa Club (flat-twin engine) is long distance tested. After a run of 50.000 kilometers, the car is entirely dismantled and each part is checked by the magazine l'Auto-Journal.

 

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Ambience from the photographer Dingo

BMW 327 Coup? - BMW 328 Roadster (around 1937)

 

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When photographer Dingo created the ambience for the magazine R?troviseur


Citro?n Traction 11BL Cabriolet 1938

Ford Edsel Citation 1958

 

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Hudson Super Eight

Mercedes 300 SL roadster 1957

 

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Citro?n Rosalie 10 Coach Sical 1933

 

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235, the ultimate model from Delahaye (1951-1954)


Cabriolet Antem

Coach Antem

Above : Coup? Chapron
Below : Cabriolet Chapron

Cabriolet Chapron

 

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Cabriolet Figoni

Coach Letourneur & Marchand

Coach "usine" made by Chapron

 

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Paris motorshow 1933 : the aerodynamic wave and soon the end of the "square bodies" (caisses carr?es)

Renault Monaquatre 1932

Taxi Renault Vivaquatre 1933 (Parisian company G7)

Renault Primaquatre aerodynamic serie 1934

Renault Vivastella Grand Sport 1935 is showing the development toward some more aerodynamic designs.

 

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Christmas 1933 at this Chenard & Walcker dealer ship.

Delahaye old generation

Delahaye new generation

Donnet Donastar 8HP

Like a lot of constructors, Hotchkiss redraws his models.

 

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Mathis Emyquatre

Panhard Panoramique has some amazing little windows in front but the design remain conventional.

Faithful Panhard customer, the French actor Victor Boucher (1877 - 1942) poses in front of a Panoramique in 1934 then a Dynamic in 1936.

Salmson keep a square style for its bodies.

New Talbot Fulgur in 1934.

Unic old and new generation.

 

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