1956 SALMSON 2300 S conversion cabriolet

1956 – Salmson 2300 S conversion cabriolet An evocation of one of the last witnesses to the golden age of great French coachbuilding French registration document - A French Grand Tourer, elegant and historic, with sustained performance - Coupé converted to cabriolet following the model of the celebrated coachbuilder Chapron - One of the very last examples built and fitted with a ZF manual gearbox - Clear history with a single owner for over 50 years! - Conversion and cosmetic restoration in the mid-2010s, presented in fine condition - Car displaying 15, 658 km on the odometer, requiring servicing, well known to the Salmson Enthusiasts' Club In the early 1950s, the French motor industry was evolving in a difficult economic context, marked by taxation penalising high-displacement models and increasingly fierce competition in the prestige car market. Faithful to its philosophy, Salmson nevertheless continued developing a high-end automobile, prioritising technical refinement, manufacturing quality and performance over mass production. It was in this context that the Salmson 2300 S was presented at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, beneath the nave of the Grand Palais, which constitutes the last model entirely developed by Salmson before the cessation of its motor car production in 1957. Heir to the S4-61, it was conceived to perpetuate the tradition of Grand Tourer motorcars of the marque, whose reputation was forged from the 1920s onwards thanks to particularly sophisticated mechanical solutions, notably illustrated by the early adoption of the twin overhead camshaft. The 2300 S is based on a chassis derived from that of the S4-61, profoundly modernised, and features a new 2, 300 cc four-cylinder with twin overhead camshafts. Fuelled by two Solex carburettors, it develops approximately 110 bhp SAE and is paired with a Cotal electromagnetic four-speed gearbox, controlled from the steering column by a selector nicknamed the "mustard pot". This powertrain allows the coupé to reach nearly 180 km/ h, placing it amongst the most powerful French motorcars in its category. True to its sporting heritage, the Salmson 2300 S also enjoyed a remarkable competition career. From its inception, it distinguished itself in the great road trials of the era, notably winning its class at the Alpine Cup and achieving brilliant results at the Liège-Rome-Liège, the Monte Carlo Rally, the Tour de France Automobile and the Lyon-Charbonnières Rally. It was also entered in major international events such as the Mille Miglia, confirming the performance, reliability and roadholding qualities of this French Grand Tourer. The bodywork was executed according to artisanal manufacturing methods. The first examples were built by the Esclassan workshops, before Henri Chapron undertook their manufacture from 1954 for the majority of production. Without modifying the general aesthetic of the model, several detail refinements occurred during its career, notably to the roof panel, front end and certain trim elements. A few chassis were also bodied by Motto and Pichon-Parat. The interior reflects the upmarket positioning of the 2300 S, with careful presentation, comprehensive instrumentation and quality materials. Like many French prestige motorcars of the 1950s, its manufacture remained essentially artisanal, each example benefiting from assembly and finishing carried out by hand. The last series-production motorcar marketed by Salmson, the 2300 S concludes nearly forty years of an industrial venture during which the marque established itself as one of the most remarkable French representatives of Grand Tourer motorcars and precision engineering. Production of the Salmson 2300 S is generally accepted to be 236 examples between 1953 and 1957, of which only five examples were built in cabriolet configuration by Henri Chapron, all now identified and catalogued. Whilst the exact number of surviving coupés is more difficult to establish, their distribution having remained confidential from the outset, they nonetheless remain sought-after, notably for their broad eligibility in national and international historic competitions. The Salmson 2300 S from the "Hidden Treasures of Périgord" collection that we present is derived from the conversion of a coupé to cabriolet. This conversion naturally draws inspiration from the extremely rare examples realised as convertibles by the Chapron coachworks, whose design faithfully echoed the lines of the original coupé and lent itself relatively easily to such an adaptation. This example thus distinguishes itself through its particularly exclusive character, offering the rare pleasure of...