1926 LORRAINE-DIETRICH B3/6 SPORT SKIFF 3 PLACES PAR LABOURDETTE

French title
Chassis n° 125563
Engine n° 133647

- Ex-Serge Pozzoli
- Original bodywork by Labourdette
- Probably only 3 owners from new

Consistent, reliable and quick, in 1925 the 15HP Lorraine- Dietrichs put paid to Bentley’s dominance at Le Mans, and rubbed it in the following year when they took the first three places overall, quite a feat at the time. Following its success in racing, the company introduced a sports version of its B3/6 with a short-wheelbase chassis, a dual ignition system and twin Zenith carburettors, capable of reaching 145kph. Listed in the catalogue as the ‘Le Mans’ model, it also had a stone guard, larger brakes with a servo, and an oil cooler.
The sports chassis no. 125563 left the factory in 1926, to be fitted with a 3-seat ‘Torpedo’ body with a rear deck by the renowned coachbuilder Henri Labourdette. What made this body so distinctive, apart from its flowing lines, was its rear deck in varnished wood. The running boards housed storage boxes which followed the streamlined design of the body. The historian and collector Serge Pozzoli discovered this exceptional car at the end of the 1960s, unearthing it at the home of its first owner at Wignehies in northern France. Its registration at the time, 5423 MB 1, was assigned there in 1929. Complete, except for the brake servo, and very well preserved, the B3/6 was bought by M. Thanry after Pozzoli’s collection was sold off in 1994. Thanry sent it to Patrick Chauffert to be restored. The engine was rebuilt, the body stripped down to bare metal before being repainted, and the woodwork restored; only a few damaged walnut slats from the rear deck were replaced by a talented cabinetmaker. A six- page feature in the magazine Auto Rétro, as well as some photographs and a detailed bill, show the work done. Jacques Potherat also mentioned the car in another feature in Auto Rétro, a copy of which will be given to the buyer. Another important point concerns the superb fully-equipped dashboard with its plaque confirming the car conforms to the 24 Hours of Le Mans chassis from 1926. This plaque was supplied by the ACO and all the manufacturers who finished in the rankings could use it for marketing purposes on the touring chassis derived from their Le Mans cars. This Lorraine- Dietrich, recommissioned in 2021 after being laid up for ten years, is quite simply exceptional: its clear history, undeniable authenticity and body from a distinguished coachbuilder make it an important car for collectors.

Photo © Peter Singhof

The auction of this lot will take place on Saturday 19 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-1926-lorraine-dietrich-b36-sport-skiff-3-places-par-labourdette-4134-331