Strengths
- Unique French coachbuilding, bespoke by Paul Née de Levallois on an American Ford V8 chassis
- Family ownership unique since new, with only two people ever at the wheel
- Full restoration completed over more than 10 years
- Winner of the 1935 annual elegance contest of Parisian fashion houses, with photographic evidence on file
- Registered as a collectible vehicle in France with matching serial numbers confirmed
The Appeal
When Henry Ford launched his flat-V8 in 1932, he democratized the eight-cylinder engine for the general public. By 1935, the Ford V8 had become a refined and sought-after platform, but our car clearly stands out from the ordinary. Its chassis and engine were purchased new in the United States, then shipped to France where the famous Paul Née workshops in Levallois, near Paris, clad it in a fully bespoke body. The result is a striking Franco-American roadster convertible, finished in black and British Racing Green with a green leather interior, designed to a truly unique brief.
This brief came from the owner’s aunt, who owned the haute couture house Maison “Irmone,” located on the prestigious Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. She commissioned the car specifically for the annual elegance contest of Parisian fashion houses in 1935 and won the top prize. Photographic evidence of this triumph remains. The car has stayed in the same family since then, passing to the current owner in 1982, at a time when it was in a lamentable state: on its wheels, heavily rusted, with a seized engine.
What followed was a total restoration spanning more than a decade, encompassing the chassis, body, mechanics, electrical system, interior, and hood. Since 1992, the car has been regularly driven, including a trip to Wales by the Channel ferry. It is now presented in very good overall condition, always stored in a ventilated garage and regularly maintained. The seller describes it as unique, and given its unique French-bodied design, its remarkable provenance, and a family history extending more than 90 years, this claim is likely justified.
The seller says:
This car is unique in its category. My aunt owned a haute couture house on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, called “Irmone.” Born in 1900, she was 35 in 1935 and decided to participate in the annual competition for the great couture houses. Seeking modernity, she bought the very latest V8 model Ford had just invented in the United States. She had the engine and chassis delivered to the Paul Nee workshop in Levallois, near Paris, because she was proud of the “Made in France,” even though that term didn’t exist at the time, and wanted to compete with a French car. Thus, she created a French-American car.
And she won the 1935 elegance prize, as shown by stunning photos.
History and paperwork
- First registration in 1935; chassis and engine purchased new in the United States
- Custom coachwork by Paul Née, Levallois, near Paris
- Initially ordered by the current owner’s aunt, owner of the Maison “Irmone” haute couture on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris
- Winner of the 1935 elegance concours for Parisian fashion houses: photographic evidence on file
- Unique family ownership since new; only two people have driven it, according to the seller
- Inherited by the current owner in 1982
- Total restoration over more than 10 years, including chassis, body, mechanical, electrical, interior and hood
- Wooden chassis recreated in beech by a marine carpenter during the restoration
- All electrical systems renewed during the restoration, including coil, points, wiper motor, dynamo, starter and distributor
- A few new parts sourced from the United States during restoration, notably door handles and mirrors
- Leather trims placed between each body panel during restoration to minimize vibrations
- Regular driving since 1992, including a trip to Wales by the Channel ferry
- Regular maintenance with oil changes, tire checks, lubrication and headlight adjustment
- Mileage approximately 57,073 km; the odometer is believed to have rolled over at least once
- Exempt from the Technical Inspection (control technique)
- Collection Vehicle registration
- Matching serial numbers confirmed by the seller
The condition
- Two-tone finish in black and British Racing Green; paint completed with multiple layers of sanded filler
- All gauges in French, reflecting the bespoke French bodywork
- Michelin tank decals with white-wall tires
- Original headlamps re-chromed and refitted; all chrome on the car is new
- Ribbed rear seat (speeder) with bench covered in green leather
- Small folding seat available; can be removed to free up luggage space
- Runs on 6V electrical system; headlights are not very powerful by modern standards
- A few small paint chips on the front hood and the ribbed-seat cover
- The seller notes the doors remain concours-condition
- The seller notes the sides and doors are in very good condition; the hood shows a few minor defects
- The ribbed-seat cover shows two or three small cracks and a larger crack under the spare wheel; the spare-wheel cover is in very good condition
- Windows and windscreen are original, triple-glazed — a notable curiosity for the era
- Interior is in good shape; the leather and rubber trim have a lovely patina
- Chromes on the seats in very good condition
- The maple wood on the two windows appears new
- The maple dashboard has cracked somewhat from heat near the windscreen, giving it a characteristic patina
- A discreet glove box containing a safety oil-pressure gauge
- The windshield wiper motor is rudimentary but functional; its slow operation is inherent to the design
- The fuel gauge still needs to be connected
- noisier when the roof is in place, with more vibrations typical of 1930s cars
The mechanics
- Flat-head Ford V8 engine rated at 21 HP (fiscal horsepower)
- Three-speed manual transmission
- Double clutch recommended for smooth gear changes
- Weighs nearly two tons; caution needed in corners and anticipate braking
- The seller states overall mechanical condition is very good, regularly driven for over 30 years
- The ignition can be capricious; points may require attention, according to the seller
- The seller describes the driving experience as a real pleasure, with smooth, calm operation and a sweet V8 note
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Comments
herve.p••••
Can we register this Fiat directly in France?
Translated from: Français
Car & Classic
Hello, I believe your comment was intended for another car, since this is a Ford and not a Fiat, already registered in France (the registration document visible in the photos). Best regards The Car & Classic team
Translated from: Français