1926 MINERVA AF TYPE CITY COUPE - LES GRANDES MARQUES DU MONDE SALE AU GRAND PALAIS THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2018

UPCOMING EVENT

 For Details Please Visit:

https://www.raceretro.com

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COMING TO AUCTION

Brought to you by Classic Chatter

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TODAY WE FEATURE

LES GRANDES MARQUES DU MONDE SALE 

AU GRAND PALAIS

THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2018

3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris, France

1926 MINERVA AF TYPE CITY COUPE 

Custom bodywork designed by Paul Ostruk Inc. 

Chassis No. 56544 

Engine No. 56544 AI 

-rare US delivery for this Minerva 

20,000 original miles, it is believed 

-Soigneusement maintained older restoration 

-Longtemps in possession of the same owner 

If Slowly recovering from the German occupation, Minerva began building large, luxury cars again in the 1920s, and enjoyed considerable success in the United States, where she found favor with film stars, politicians and industrialists. One of the keys to this success was Paul Ostruk of New York who ran a large brand agency at The Consolidated Foreign Motor Co. at the end of the 1920s.

A Czech émigré who arrived in America in 1908, he quickly learned the art of bodywork and the tastes and whims of a wealthy clientele. While working at coachbuilders AT Demarest, he met and later teamed up with Emerson Brooks. Brooks was a respected stylist who worked at another prominent coachbuilder, JM Quinby & Co, and was also treasurer of the Automobile Club of America, the New York institution that had been established at the beginning of horse-drawn carriages and had the largest and the best among its members. Brooks had an excellent address book and the partnership was strong because he had access to the elite for sales while Paul Ostruk was in charge of manufacturing their cars.

The first activities of the Brooks-Ostruk tandem consisted mainly in taking Pierce-Arrow or Packard chassis and making more European-looking bodies, often even covering the motif radiators of their own. The recipe was rather popular in an environment of individual bidding and when their custom-built cars made their debut at the New York Salon they were selling considerable sums.

Following this experience, Ostruk realized that he could buy Minerva chassis for a more reasonable price, compared to the prices of some competing American brands, and when they were dressed in the bodies he created, they proved to be very competitive. popular with its customers. The uncomplicated look of the Minerva, with their headlights and Art Deco goddess on the radiator have had an effect in the high society of the east coast! This gave birth to a Minerva agency, until the depression came and ended both companies. In 1923 coexistence with Brooks had ended and Ostruk founded Paul Ostruk & Co, New York.

Prefiguring the famous eight-cylinder AL, the majority of the Minerva Ostruk were built on the most powerful six-cylinder, like the AF shown here with its 5,343cc engine. Its body plate proudly displays "Custom Coach Work Especially Designed for Paul Ostruk Co. Inc., New York, USA," but what's hiding this wording is that at the time, most of its bodies were manufactured in a few One of the best coachbuilders in the New York area. Firstly Locke & Co. then later Raymond Dietrich and Tom Hibbard's LeBaron factory. Not surprisingly, they incorporated the latest in style and were of the highest quality.

Jacques Vander Stappen bought this AF from Seymour Rappaport of Teaneck, New Jersey about 30 years ago in May 1988, as stated in the very complete correspondence file provided with the car. At the time of the sale, Mr. Rappaport wrote to the buyer, "The car has 17,000 miles of origin, was driven only by a heater (sic) the first year and then only by me". He does not say who the driver was, but he must have looked like one of the typical Ostruk customers who had probably abandoned him after a modest mileage to move to another premium car brand.

Mr. Rappaport seems to have been the owner of the car in the 1970s, an old title already quotes him as owner in 1973 and a picture shows him out of a garage where she had apparently slept for more than 40 years. A note on the record details unimportant damage to the quarter panel, due to a water leak in the roof of the garage, as the biggest repair during the restoration of the car. During this restoration, the two-tone livery of the car in which it was found was taken back, returning it to its former glory of the 1920s. After the restoration and in possession of these last two owners, the mileage had risen to 20 000 miles, still very modest, according to what was displayed on the counter.

In the hands of Mr. Vander Stappen, the car continued to be pampered and shown in its private museum although in recent years it has not been used regularly and will need to be restarted carefully before any road use.

Clearly inspired by the European bodywork of the time, with obvious similarities to D'Ieteren's ALs from the same collection, Paul Ostruk's American interpretation of this style makes it an automotive treat for the eyes. The most appealing details of the car are the polished aluminum dashboard, the hammered door handles and the neat accessories. Its rear compartment has folding seats concealed behind marquetry panels and a plethora of wood paneling and trim surrounded by the most elegant gray fabric upholstery. 

In the hands of its new owner, it will certainly be well received in all European or American elegance contests. 

Original Source: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24882/lot/324/?category=list&length=100&page=2

SELECTED BY - IDRIS THE SQUIRREL

I'M NUTS ABOUT CLASSICS

CLASSIC CHATTER

KEEPING IT CLASSIC 

2010-2018

Disclaimer:  Whilst Classic Chatter ("we") attempt to make sure that the information contained in this website is accurate and complete, we are aware that some errors and omissions may occur from time to time. We are not able, therefore, to guarantee the accuracy of that information and cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from misleading information or for any reliance on which you may place on the information contained in this website. We highly recommend that y check the accuracy of the information supplied. If you have any queries with regard to any information on our website, please contact us at  jeff.classicchatter@mail.com

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1925 HISPANO SUIZA H6B 32CV CITY COUPE - LES GRANDES MARQUES DU MONDE SALE AU GRAND PALAIS THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2018 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris, France

UPCOMING EVENT

 For Details Please Visit:

https://www.raceretro.com

*****************************************************************************

COMING TO AUCTION

Brought to you by Classic Chatter

www.classicchatter.co.uk

Visit our 2018 Events Listings at EVENTS 2018
To Advertise your 2018 Events  e-mail us at
events.classicchatter@mail.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Social Media
FACEBOOK - @classicchatterinfocus
TWITTER - @classicchat
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Classic Chatter is an independent website for owners & enthusiasts of all types of historic vehicles.

As well as our main website we post regularly on our sites related to Showroom Classics, Auctions & Events News

TODAY WE FEATURE

LES GRANDES MARQUES DU MONDE SALE 

AU GRAND PALAIS

THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2018

3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris, France

1925 HISPANO SUIZA H6B 32CV CITY COUPE

Carrosserie Kellner, Paris 
Chassis # 11038

• Luxury brand 
• New delivery in Paris 
• First owner Mr Pierre Lorillard Ronalds 
• Formerly owned by Mr Alain Balleret, founder of the club Hispano-Suiza of France 
• Restored by Mr Balleret (end of the 1960s / early 1970s)

The chassis 11038 was shipped by the factory on November 27, 1924. Its first owner, Mr Pierre Lorillard Ronalds had asked for an elegant body style razor-edge coupe city by the body Kellner, one of the very chic Parisian coachbuilders. Mr Ronalds was from one of the oldest American families whose vast fortune came from New York's Lorillard tobaccos. His home at 11, rue de la Baume, is still one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris. 11038 was his fourth Hispano-Suiza and he kept it until his death in February 1928 when she passed to another client Hispano-Suiza, Carmen de Romero of Paris.

We go directly to the summer of 1967 when photographer Ludo Pivron was refuelling his Delahaye 135MS at a gas station in the French countryside. He routinely asks the mechanic if he knows "old cars" in the area. He is then told a local scrap dealer in the hangars of which he is surprised to find this Hispano. In a letter in the record, Mr Pivron remembers that the hangar was well ventilated and that the Hispano had been well preserved, a complete survivor in a remarkable original state and apparently having arrived there by his own means.

The price of 3,000 Francs exceeded what could be afforded Mr Pivron and a few weeks later he learned that Hispano-Suiza was now in Paris where it was displayed on sale for 9,000 francs! This is where the car was bought by a friend of Mr Pivron, an industrialist who after years of careful restoration made this sumptuous H6B to its former glory. 

The industrialist mentioned above was Alain Balleret who, in the 1930s, was head of the experimental department of Hispano-Suiza. In the 1970s, Alain Balleret founded the Hispano-Suiza club in France and, until his death on January 1, 1988, organized many Hispano-Suiza events, many in collaboration with the American club (see letter from the daughter of Mr Balleret on file).

The H6B was restored by a master coachbuilder near Saint-Etienne, Mr Saillant (now deceased) and was used for the wedding of the daughter of Mr Balleret in June 1971. Since then, she took part in many rallies including the Monte Carlo in 1973. In possession of Mr Balleret, 11038 was the common garage with the fabulous and unique Hispano-Suiza Xenia, now in an American collection.

Following the death of Mr Balleret, Hispano-Suiza body Kellner remained pampered in a shed family castle. Emerging in 2007, after being used for the last time at the Barcelona-Paris Rally of 2003, she was sent to Switzerland to a professional conservator. The carburettor was rebuilt by a French specialist, Umpaler, and the running gear was carefully checked, cleaned and tested. Hispano was then offered for sale Bonhams Olympia in December 2008 (Lot 682) where it was purchased by the seller.

According to the 2008 catalogue: "A recent test drive saw the car market at a brisk pace. Oil pressure was good, steering and brakes accurate and all mechanical and electrical systems were working properly. And to everyone's surprise, in a straight line, this 84-year-old lady was perfectly fit in modern traffic. The engine block has been carefully checked for corrosion ... and has received a certificate of good health. "

This typical French town coupe, repainted in its vintage cellulosic black, is sumptuously equipped with its original tilting Blériot headlamps, a formidable electric Cicca Tenor trunk and side lanterns mounted on the windshield. The front compartment upholstery is in black leather and beige fabric on the back with Cuban mahogany panels and original bone door handles. Other luxury features include electric interior lighting, downward driver separation, valuable storage space for the rear passengers and a driver's intercom.

Also noteworthy are the side-mounted spare wheel, the two-part opening windshield, a detachable toolbox, a polished aluminium instrument panel with Hispano-Suiza instrumentation, optional Ram telescopic front shock absorbers, and a safety deposit box. Removable back luggage filled with custom suitcases (with their original keys) for long trips. 

Since its acquisition by the seller, 11038 has been regularly maintained and little used. Sold with the car, you'll find a fascinating historical file containing the old French registration card, UK V5 registration papers, maintenance sheets, various invoices, photographs and the correspondence mentioned above.

Offering the best of automotive fun, suitable for all climates in the open or closed, offering exceptional roominess in its sumptuous rear compartment for guests or to occupy the youngest passengers, this elegant Hispano-Suiza is the perfect car for the pleasure of long exceptional rallies reserved for the elite or for very chic elegance contests. 

Original Source: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24882/lot/312/?category=list&length=100&page=2

SELECTED BY - IDRIS THE SQUIRREL

I'M NUTS ABOUT CLASSICS

CLASSIC CHATTER

KEEPING IT CLASSIC 

2010-2018

Disclaimer:  Whilst Classic Chatter ("we") attempt to make sure that the information contained in this website is accurate and complete, we are aware that some errors and omissions may occur from time to time. We are not able, therefore, to guarantee the accuracy of that information and cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from misleading information or for any reliance on which you may place on the information contained in this website. We highly recommend that y check the accuracy of the information supplied. If you have any queries with regard to any information on our website, please contact us at  jeff.classicchatter@mail.com

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