Chassis No. VK8CUP11191CH0019

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

MVS – standing for Manufacture de Voitures de Sport or "sports car maker" - was founded in 1984 by French engineers Claude Poiraud and Gérard Godfroy to compete with fast, luxurious GT offerings from Porsche, Aston Martin, and Ferrari. Introduced at the 1986 Paris Motor Show, the company's first production model was the Venturi, a stylish mid-engine sports car utilizing a tubular steel backbone chassis with box section reinforcement and low-slung, aerodynamic bodywork manufactured from weight-saving fiberglass. Underpinnings included an independent double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear.

While essentially retaining the same layout, underlying structure, and fiberglass body shell throughout production, the model was continuously refined and updated including a revised suspension system and the availability of new engines with varying levels of power. For 1990, the model received a mild facelift primarily consisting of a deeper front spoiler and new side sills, while the MVS name was discarded in favor of Venturi and a new company logo.

This 1991 Venturi 111 Cup is believed to be one of just three built for the Italian market to cleverly circumvent the then-punitive thirty-eight percent tax on cars with more than 2.0-liters of engine displacement. Derived from the contemporary Renault 21 Turbo, this example is powered by a turbocharged, fuel-injected 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine developing a claimed 185 horsepower. Placed amidship ahead of the rear axle and delivering power to the rear wheels through a five-speed transmission, the motor was more compact and weighed less than the six-cylinder units in other Venturi models, benefiting the car with sharper handling and slightly better fuel economy.

Finished in its original Black paint, this 111 Cup is trimmed in Magnolia leather with walnut burlwood inserts on the dashboard, center console, and shift knob. Other features included air-conditioning (fully operational), five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, electrically adjustable seats, windows, mirrors, and a Clarion CRH 70 AM/FM Cassette radio. Understood to have been ordered by the owner of the original Venturi dealership in Venice, Italy, this example was never sold and has been kept in true 'time-capsule' condition with just over 350 kilometers – or approximately 218 miles - registering at the time of cataloging. Accompanied by documentation from new, a servicing was stated to have been recently performed in anticipation of consignment at The Amelia.

Praised in period for their brisk performance and handling, less than 600 Venturis of all types are believed to have been built from 1986-2000. Extremely rare Stateside, the sale of this Venturi 111 Cup will offer its next owner the choice to further preserve or drive this unusual Gallic sports car.