Highlights

An immensely original near 100-year-old survivor
Ultra-rare original two-door coupé coachwork
Matching numbers engine, gearbox, axles, and steering box
One of the earliest cars to feature dual overhead camshafts
Well-documented early history, including details of the original keeper in 1929

The Appeal

No list of great automotive innovators is complete without the inclusion of Émile Salmson. His engineering firm honed its craft building steam-powered pumps and compressors in the 1890s and later became among the very first producers of purpose-built aircraft engines in the years leading up to the First World War. Following the end of hostilities, Salmson diversified into motor car production, originally making car bodies and later complete automobiles.

It was among the first manufacturers to move away from the typical side-valve engines, becoming an early proponent of dual overhead camshafts with the introduction of the S4 model. Salmson's four-cylinder twin-cam was complex and expensive to manufacture, but the engine more than made up for this with its increased responsiveness and ability to rev much higher than its competitors.

This 1929 Salmson S4C is a rare matching numbers survivor which retains its factory M5 two-door coupé coachwork, of which a mere 448 were made.

The vendor tells us:

“This is one of 298 cars made in 1929 with Chassis number 50778. Its 1,300cc engine was a massive breakthrough for its time with double overhead cams, a massive improvement on the side-valve Amilcar competition. The original factory bodywork is a very rare two-door, four-seater 'coupé'. The car is all matching numbers with original axles, gearbox, steering box and engine. The starter and alternator are combined in the same innovative "dynamoteur" mounted on the front of the engine.”

The Salmson was part of an Italian private museum collection since the 1970s, and we likely have this fifty-year period of dry storage to thank for its enviable state of preservation and originality. It has since undergone light recommissioning and is therefore offered in running, driving order. As the photographs attest, the car boasts a delightful age-commensurate patina and the vendor notes that the paintwork on the wings may be original to 1929. The bodywork has been painted over in a similar green at some point in the past, while the mechanicals are entirely original save for the sensible addition of an electric cooling fan.

Between 1921 and 1928, Salmsons would win 550 races the world over and claim ten world records, rivalling fellow French manufacturers Amilcar and Bugatti. If ever an automobile manufacturer deserved greater recognition, it’s Salmson. If you collect pre-war French motor cars, this remarkable S4C would be a superb addition to your garage. These cars seldom come to market, and this S4C is as original as you’re ever likely to encounter.

The vendor summarises: “It is an absolute joy to behold in its originality and, subject to a sensitive mechanical restoration, would be a star of the rallying scene with its lovely worn-in appearance”

The History and Paperwork

Chassis number: 50778
One of 298 examples made in 1929
Just 448 examples made with M5 coachwork
Matching numbers
The model was more expensive than most competitors of equivalent size - you were paying for the advanced engineering
The Salmson was first owned by an important Parisian school owner, Monsieur Vaysse who ran La Pre Saint-Gervais Institution Vaysse
Formerly a static exhibit at a private Italian museum since the 1970s
Recent recommissioning work performed by the vendor
32,236 km indicated
The car wears its original French rear registration plate ‘7800JG1’, but does not have a 'Carte Grise' so would need to be re-registered for road use in the winning bidder’s country of choice (if that is not France)

The Condition

Whilst most S4Cs have been cut up to make open-top specials, this car retains its factory Salmson bodywork
Patinated throughout commensurate with age
The paint on the wings is believed by the vendor to be original to the car
The body has been repainted at some point in a green similar to the factory shade
Some areas of paint are cracked and flaking; the vendor advises a conservative restoration to preserve the paint finish
Surface corrosion is visible underneath, although the chassis is reportedly solid
Entirely original four-seater Salmson interior, including the carpet, headlining and hat-carrying straps in the roof
Minimal wear apparent to the upholstery and controls in spite of their considerable age
The end of the driver-side window winder lever appears to have snapped
A protective mat has been added beside the pedals to protect the original carpets
The interior woodwork, dashboard and exquisite Jaeger instrumentation is also completely original and beautifully preserved barre the addition of an indicator stalk, added during the 1960s

The Mechanics

1.3-litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol engine
We’re informed that the engine is free-revving and the gearbox is quiet considering it uses straight-cut gears
The brake pedal would reportedly benefit from some adjustment, but both foot and handbrake bring the car to an effective stop
Having been on static display in a museum until recently, the vendor has carried out some light recommissioning work: since its extraction, it has had an oil change, ultrasonic carburettor clean, fuel tank clean and new battery
The vendor notes that engine compression is good and the car starts and drives in all gears
The vendor recommends a thorough service prior to resuming on-road use while demonstrating the Salmson to be in running, driving order
The radiator has a small leak at the top pipe mount - a straightforward repair
The tyres appear to be period Dunlop items with various age-related cracks and should certainly be replaced before the car returns to the road
Original-looking engine compartment

BEFORE BUYING

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