To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Paris event, 4 - 5 February 2025.

• Overall and class winner of the 1938 Bol d’Or; two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans entrant
• One of three Gordini race cars built on the Simca 8 chassis, each of a different design
• Reportedly driven by two-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi
• Ash wood frame with aluminium bodywork presented in French Racing Blue
• A 1.1-litre Fiat four-cylinder engine upgraded by Gordini is mated to a four-speed manual gearbox
• Bought by the consignor in 2000; FIVA prize winner at the 2018 Concours Le Mans Heritage Club
• Accompanied by a Gordini engine and report by marque authority Christian Huet

Please note this car is titled as 1945.

Veuillez noter que ce véhicule est immatriculé en 1945.

A stiffened chassis, lightweight aluminium body, and polished cylinder head were among the revisions made by Amédée Gordini to transform one of the first Simca 8 compact cars built into a bona fide racer. At the wheel of his own creation for its competitive debut, the French engineer drove solo to brilliantly win the 1938 Bol d’Or held over 24 hours at the Montlhéry circuit.

That very car, chassis 823885, would enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks later before returning to La Sarthe in 1939 to finish 2nd-in-class for 1,100-cc machinery. Owned by privateer Jacques Lapaillerie from 1947, the car was converted to right-hand drive and continued to compete until 1953. The Simca was then bought by collector Christian Chassaing de Borredon, who reportedly invited Emerson Fittipaldi to drive the car in 1970 while the future double Formula 1 World Champion contested a Formula 2 race at Rouen.

Mr de Borredon’s widow sold chassis 823885 in 1993 ahead of it being purchased by the Paris-based consignor in 2000. The Simca has since been displayed at the Concours Le Mans Heritage Club event in 2012 and 2018, winning the FIVA prize at the latter. The car is complemented by a Gordini engine and history report by marque authority Christian Huet.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa25/.