1956 – Salmson 2300 S convertible conversion - Lot 10

Lot 10
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Estimation :
50000 - 70000 EUR
1956 – Salmson 2300 S convertible conversion - Lot 10
1956 – Salmson 2300 S convertible conversion A tribute to one of the last remnants of the golden age of French coachbuilding ✨ “The Hidden Treasures of the Périgord” Collection ✨ French registration title Chassis No. 85232 - A sleek and historic French Grand Tourer with strong performance - A coupe converted into a convertible modeled after the design by the famous coachbuilder Chapron - One of the very last examples built, featuring a ZF manual transmission - Clear ownership history with a single owner for over 50 years! - Conversion and cosmetic restoration in the mid-2010s; in excellent condition - Car has 15,658 km on the odometer; due for service; well known to the Amicale Salmson Find the complete catalog for the “Rétromania” auction, which includes this lot, on the Collector Cars Auction (CCA) website. The file and additional photos for each vehicle are available at the following Drive link (after requesting access): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aluJ7ZZJvUKBib-4eJDbaGH6vxu5ePC4 Estimate: €50,000 / €70,000 In the early 1950s, the French automotive industry was operating in a difficult economic climate, marked by tax policies that penalized high-displacement models and by increasingly fierce competition in the luxury car market. True to its philosophy, Salmson nevertheless continued to develop a high-end automobile, prioritizing technical refinement, build quality, and performance over mass production. It was against this backdrop that the Salmson 2300 S was unveiled at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, under the main hall of the Grand Palais. This model was the last to be entirely developed by Salmson before the company ceased automobile production in 1957. As the successor to the S4E, it was designed to carry on the brand’s tradition of Grand Tourisme cars, whose reputation had been forged as early as the 1920s thanks to particularly sophisticated mechanical solutions, exemplified notably by the early adoption of the double overhead camshaft. The 2300 S is built on a chassis derived from that of the S4E, which has been extensively modernized, and is equipped with a new 2,300 cm³ four-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts. Powered by two Solex carburetors, it produced approximately 110 ch SAE and was paired with a four-speed Cotal electromagnetic transmission, controlled from the steering column via a selector nicknamed the “moutardier.” This powertrain enabled the coupe to reach nearly 180 km/h, placing it among the highest-performing French cars in its class. True to its sporting heritage, the Salmson 2300 S also enjoyed a distinguished career in competition. From the moment it debuted, it distinguished itself in the major road races of the era, notably winning its class at the Coupe des Alpes and achieving brilliant results at the Liège–Rome–Liège, the Monte Carlo Rally, the Tour de France Automobile, and the Lyon–Charbonnières Rally. It also competed in major international events such as the Mille Miglia, confirming the performance, reliability, and handling qualities of this French Grand Tourer. The bodywork was crafted by hand. The first models were built by Esclassan, before Henri Chapron took over production in 1954 for the majority of the models. Without altering the model’s overall aesthetic, several minor design updates were made over the course of its production run, particularly to the roof, the front end, and certain trim details. A few chassis were also fitted with bodywork by Motto and Pichon-Parat. The interior reflects the 2300 S’s high-end positioning, with a refined design, a full suite of instruments, and high-quality materials. Like many prestigious French automobiles of the 1950s, its production remained essentially artisanal, with each vehicle benefiting from hand-assembled and hand-finished components. As the last production car marketed by Salmson, the 2300 S brought to a close nearly forty years of an industrial adventure during which the brand established itself as one of France’s most remarkable representatives of Grand Tourisme automobiles and precision engineering. Production of the Salmson 2300 S is generally accepted to have totaled 236 units between 1953 and 1957, of which only five were built as convertibles by Henri Chapron; all of these have now been identified and cataloged. While the exact number of surviving coupes is more difficult to determine, their distribution is
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