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.

DateEventDriverEntrantRace #Result06-07 June 1938Bol d'OrAmédée GordiniEcurie Gordini301st18-19 June 193824 Hours of Le MansJean Breillet & Jean VialeEcurie Gordini38DNF (mechanical)09-10 July 193824 Hours of SpaJean Breillet & Jean VialeEcurie Gordini62DNF (accident)20 August 1938Grand Prix de La BauleJean BreilletEcurie Gordini87th03 September 1938Tourist TrophyJean Breillet & Albert DebilleEcurie Gordini317th & 1st in Class11 September 193812 Hours of ParisJean Breillet & Albert DebilleEcurie Gordini66DNF25 September 1938Lapize HillclimbJean BreilletEcurie Gordini1271st in Class05 May 1939Rallye OlazurRobert CailleuxEcurie Gordini47th07 May 1939Grand Handicap OlazurRobert CailleuxEcurie Gordini42nd17-18 June 193924 Hours of Le MansGuy Lapchin & Claude PlantivauxEcurie Gordini4113th & 2nd in Class09 July 1939Sports Commission CupJoseph PaulEcurie Gordini326th & 3rd in Class09 September 1945Robert Benoist CupRobert CayeuxEcurie Blanche et Noire37th & 3rd in Class22 April 1946Mediterranean Palace CupAlbert AlinAlbert Alin104th12 May 1946Marseille Grand PrixAlbert AlinAlbert Alin78th19 May 1946Forez Grand PrixAlbert AlinAlbert Alin74th09 June 1946Saint Cloud Grand PrixAlbert AlinAlbert Alin338th16 June 1946Belgian GP, 1,100-cc support raceJosé ScaronEcurie Gordini123rd08 July 1946Burgundy Grand PrixAlbert AlinAlbert Alin348th28 July 1946Nantes CupAlbert AlinAlbert Alin712th14 March 1950Lesparre-MedocJacques LapaillerieJacques Lapaillerie26DNF03-04 June 1950Bol d'OrJacques LapaillerieJacques Lapaillerie31DNF3 March 1953Bordeux Grand PrixJacques LapaillerieJacques Lapaillerie284thTo view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa25/.