One of the nine remaining examples out of a total of twenty products
Brand new navy blue alpaca soft top
Recent complete mechanical overhaul
Registered in France, making it easy to import into Europe
The appeal
Another victim of the punitive taxes imposed on vehicles in France after the Second World War, the Hotchkiss brand is little known today. And that's a shame, because this Paris-based company was one of the most innovative French manufacturers of the twentieth century, responsible in particular for the highly acclaimed 'Hotchkiss Drive'.
This elegant pre-war cabriolet is an ultra-rare 686 PN: only twenty examples were produced and only nine are known to exist today. The details are as fine as buyers have come to expect from top-of-the-range manufacturers such as Hotchkiss. The car has benefited from a great deal of work in recent years, including a complete overhaul of the engine, and we are told that it drives very well.
You may never have the opportunity to acquire a model like this again - so this superb convertible is not to be missed.image.png3.28 MB
History and Documents
Registered in 1938
17,863 kilometres recorded
One of only nine left out of twenty produced
Purchased at auction in 2020
Spent 2 and a half years in the workshop since purchase
Very well presented (and very shiny) bodywork with beautiful paintwork
Two-tone paintwork in navy blue and white, with hand-painted separator fillets
Some minor imperfections normal for a vehicle of this age (see photos below)
Treated surface corrosion under the chassis
Navy blue alpaca bonnet advertised as new
Chrome in very good condition
Cognac leather interior and matching velour carpet redone a few years ago, in very good condition
New MICHELIN tyres and inner tubes
HELLA warning lights and reversing lights (under the bumpers)
Backlit rear number plate
This is an extremely attractive car. It's not ostentatious in any way, but it's undeniably elegant and refined from every angle. We love the little details: the backlit rear plate, the downward-facing exhaust pipe, the Hotchkiss controls engraved on the steering column, and the square Jaeger instruments reminiscent of a Cartier watch. This car is simply exquisite.
As the photos show, this Hotchkiss presents remarkably well for its age, with a slight patina but no noticeable wear or deterioration.image.png2.7 MB
Mechanical
3.5-litre in-line six-cylinder
Four-speed manual gearbox
Engine completely rebuilt, with general overhaul and various adjustments
Engine, gearbox and differential recently flushed
Fuel tank rebuilt, with new fuel system, pump, filter and filter holder
Complete engine overhaul, including governor, just after purchase
New tank, pump, fuel system and filter complete
Electrical system overhauled
Brakes checked and adjusted
Alternator installed in place of dynamo (dynamo retained)
The vendor tells us that this Hotchkiss drives very well, provided it is driven with the usual care for a vehicle of this age. Its torquey six-cylinder engine makes it very functional despite its age, and given the major mechanical work carried out recently, it should be ready to hit the road.image.png3.04 MB
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to Car & Classic's terms and conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller, which means that consumer rights arising from European consumer protection legislation do not apply. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic's terms and conditions.
✓ We ask that a non-refundable fee is paid if you are the lucky winner of the auction or if your bid is accepted. Please refer to our FAQs and terms and conditions for specific fees.
✓ This vehicle is "sold as is", on an "as is, where is" basis and without warranty. Photographs and descriptions are for illustrative purposes only and it is customary to carry out a full vehicle inspection prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final offer or tender price, as specified in the advert.
✓ We want the transaction to go as smoothly as you do, which is why UK-registered cars and motorbikes offered for sale on Car & Classic are HPI-checked to ensure they have no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and are not financially pledged, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are registered as written off as part of a total loss at the time the advert is placed on Car & Classic and provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) to help you. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the status of the vehicle and it is always worth carrying out a full vehicle history check before making an offer on it.
✓ Buyers are responsible for the collection or delivery of the vehicle. Importing vehicles may incur additional customs duties and import taxes. If you wish, we can recommend a third party transport company who can assist you. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected].
You have made an offer on this vehicle. Our team will be in contact when your offer has been reviewed
