Mercedes-Benz typ 630 from 1925

This Mercedes-Benz 24/100/140 PS typ 630 was one of the most luxury car built in Germany during the mid-20s.
With a straight 6 cylinder engine (94 x 150) of 6.2 l capacity, this motor developed 100 PS at 2800 rpm and 140 PS at 3100 rpm thanks to the compressor.
The 6 seat tourer was priced 26500 Reichmarks while at the same time, the small Opel "Laubfrosch" cost 4500 Reichmarks.
Competitor to the 630 was the Maybach W5 built in Friedrichshafen for the German manufacturers.

Brasier, le trèfle à quatre feuilles

Charles-Henri Brasier is born in Ivry-la-Bataille on March 9, 1864. Graduated, in 1883, from the famous Ecole des Arts et Métiers from Chalons en Champagne , his first job is drawer for Panhard & Levassor then to the Paris-Orléans railway company.
In 1895, he joined Mors where he is responsible for the conception of the petrol automobiles. Brasier designs Mors racing car that will win several races among them the Paris-Berlin in 1901.
En 1902, he left Mors and, with Georges Richard, they found the Society Richard-Brasier with a big factory in Ivry-Port and use as brand mark "Le trèfle à quatre feuilles" that has been registered by Richard in 1892.
June 17, 1904, Léon Théry is winner of the Coupe Gordon Bennett with a 4 cyl. 80 HP Brasier and this victory, in Germany, will have a very important impact in France.
Few months after this event, the two associates, Charles-Henri Brasier and Georges Richard, separate.
One year later, on July 15, 1905, for the second time Léon Théry is again winner of the Coupe Gordon Bennett that ran this year in France.
These two victories have an important impact on the production and sale of automobiles Brasier until 1914, the beginning of one of the most terrific event of the 20th century the first World War.

Darl'mat designed by Georges Paulin

Georges Paulin was a dentist but also car designer who worked on Lancia, Renault, Peugeot, Bentley.

This 302 Darl'mat cabriolet was presented at the concours of elegance in Cannes in 1937.

Henri-Labourdette Trèn-Car

Just after WWI,  Henri-Labourdette, the famous coachbuilder, created a small trailer called "Trèn-Car".
Trèn is phonetically trainer,  in English : to lug.
I think it was the first time that a trailer was proposed to automobilists and it was a quite expensive item.

On the above picture, we see a big De Dion Bouton coupé limousine from the early 20's, equipped with a Trèn-car.

It was possible to have the trailer equipped with luggage or, as below, with a dog cage.

Turcat Mery from Marseille

Founded by Léon Turcat and Simon Mery, Turcat, Mery & Cie was established in Marseille, 17 boulevard Michelet and they created their first automobile in 1899.
In 1901, they sold a license to Adrien de Turckheim who produced automobiles under the brand of de Dietrich in his Luneville factory .
After WWI, they had a showroom in Paris at 122 avenue des Champs Elysées.
This picture is from the mid 20s and show what is probably the factory "racing team". I haven't been able to identiy the different models, any information is welcome.

Farman A6B at the Chateau de Madrid

Many industrialist who produced different type of equipment, ammunition, airplanes, etc. during the Great War, once the war ended, became automobile manufacturer. We can mention André Citroën, Gabriel Voisin but also Hispano Suiza, Gnome Rhone, Fonck, etc.
Among them Henri and Maurice Farman, who were one of the major  airplane supplier to the War Minister during the war, decided to diverse their production to luxury cars.
A first model, the A6, was presented at Paris motor show in October 1919. It was followed by an upgraded version, the A6B with front wheel brakes available at the end of 1921.
This coupe de ville, a standard body built by Farman, is photographed in front of the Chateau de Madrid, an old mansion located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the West of Paris.

If you want to know more about the automobiles Farman, you can refer to a new book just published by ETAI.

Make something new out of something old...

At first sight, we could think this Rolls Royce is from the early 30's. The body, is a coupé chauffeur transformable but when checking closely, it seems that the it could be a landaulet with a kind of hard top covering the front seats and the rear doors. 

Headlamps are Marchal, the front bumper is a Cromos "Flèches d'argent" (silver arrow), both accessories  are from the late 20's.

Just behind the spare wheel, we can clearely see the hand brake level, meaning that it is actually a Silver Ghost model that has been rebodied in 1929/1930. The registration plate in RD7 is from Paris and dated  from January 1930. 

The coachbuilder plate is visible on the bottom of the chauffeur's door, from its shape we can guess it is either Franay or Belvallette. 

Delahaye 135 MS cabriolet Brandone

Concours of elegance at Cannes in 1939, Delahaye 135 MS cabriolet by Brandone

Brandone, probably the most talented coachbuilder from South of France, for this car, was definitely inspired  by Figoni & Falaschi. Look at the front bumper with the two parallel blades, the elegant line that starts at the top of the radiator and goes to the running board. A pretty nice cabriolet which won an award at the concours.

The dolce vita on the French Riviera, still for a short period...

Who could have imagine that 6 month after this pictures has been taken, the war is declared and in less than one year, the German army will occupy half of France in few weeks... One of the worst periods for Europe will begin and will last for four years.  

Lorraine B3-6 at La Baule

This very attractive roadster is a Lorraine model B3-6. These cars were built in Argenteuil, few miles from Paris. With a 3,445 cc (210.2 cu in) six cylinder engine,  overhead valves, hemispherical head, aluminium pistons, and four-bearing crankshaft, the B3-6 was a quite good car. For two consecutive years, 1925 and 1926, Lorraine won the famous endurance race, the 24 hours of Le Mans with a B3-6 tourer. Not a stock car, but the preparation was minimal.

It is seen here above, participating to the concours of elegance at La Baule, on the West coast of France in 1929.
This custom built body is, may be, from Gaston Grümmer, a quite famous coachbuilder from the era.

Another view of the same car, this time at a concours of elegance in Paris in June 1929.

Les automobiles Farman

This new book will be available in all good book shops by mid February.
Further details will be communicated soon.