Description
- The history of this intriguing Roadster begins at the dawn of the 1950s, at 109 rue Judaique in Bordeaux, housing in the local dealer's garage a certain Jacques Calès… This motorsport enthusiast was at the time preparing his own race car, based on Simca 8 parts, to take part in the handful of local Grand Prix events. This is notably the case at the Grand Prix of Bressuire 1953, where we find him entered in the sports category on a Simca Sport Spéciale 1 090 cm3.
During 1953, he devised a race coupé, aluminium-bodied, tubular chassis, still based on Simca running gear with a prepared Peugeot 203 engine. LA 203 CALES was born and registered as a standalone in 04/ 54. He entered the Coupé in the Grand Prix of Bordeaux in 1954…
- We find our race coupé in 1964 as a barquette with Firmin Dura, coachbuilder for the Dax Peugeot concession. The Calès barquette had just finished its competition adventures, and required a new bodywork. Firmin Dura would complete this work, already begun by Henri Rignault.
- Our elegant Roadster emerges from this workshop in red with a black stripe. Its lines are directly inspired by Italian masterpieces; notably there is a strong resemblance to the works of Frua, giving rise to a legend that it was the Italian master who drew this car for Henri Rignault… It is attributed the title of the Ferrari among Peugeot 203s.
- Today, the car presents itself to us with a sumptuous patina. Its mechanics still bear the marks of 1950s preparations: a cylinder head with large valves and Constantin intake pipe, a Solex double-barrel carburettor, a Darl’Mat exhaust, block bored to 1500 cm3, Malhé pistons… Once running, the four-cylinder’s sound is spellbinding. When engaging first gear (bottom right, the gearbox is still the original 203 one, with the floor-mounted lever inverted here), the car pulls away and revs with vigour. It is a true sportive, fun to drive with an ultra-light and lively rear axle.
- This Roadster is ultimately midway between the three finest worlds: the pièce de bravoure of a talented coachbuilder, the race barquette born from the genius of a 1950s sorcerer, and the ideal Roadster to enjoy summer as one should. Unique model; it is eligible for historic vehicle races. Make an offer, base price higher than a PEUGEOT 203 Cabriolet ---
