Peugeot 203 Martin, 1953
Peugeot 203 I
Peugeot 203 I•
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Chassis No.: 1123553
Not Sold
French registration title
Sold without contrôle technique Like its sisters in Mr A’s collection, the car we present in these pages could have taken up an entire article in Serge Pozzoli’s
Tiroirs de l’Inconnu (if the creator hadn’t been one of his closest friends!). The story begins with Eugène Martin, a distinguished racing driver, known for his BMW 328, Jicey, or Talbot-Lago T26C, but also for having competed 3 times in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Eugène Martin was also a renowned mechanic and tuner, initially working as an engineer for Solex and then managing a garage for the same firm in Paris. After an accident in a Talbot-Lago T26C in 1950, the driver had to convalesce and embarked on a project for a 1,500 cc sports coupé capable of competing with the rest of international production.
He took a Peugeot 203 saloon as a base, and made considerable efforts to develop it further: lowered lines, special suspension, and a complete change of bodywork to become a 2-door 4-seater coupé. Most of the work, however, concerned the engine: the cylinder head was changed, as were the valves and their springs, the exhaust manifold became 4-in-1, and two carburettors were added (3 in all, including 1 offset). The project would later become the prototype for the Salmson 2300 S, designed by Eugène Martin!
Our example was discovered by Michel Romeyer in 1997 at a garage in Montpellier, where it had been owned since 1962!
The copy of the old registration document also shows that the car was registered in Paris in 1960 as ‘2130 CA 75’. A press
article published at the time of the discovery indicates that a restoration had been undertaken many years earlier, but never
completed, which meant that the car was immobilised for many years. According to the information gathered during our research, our example would have been the personal vehicle of Eugène Martin’s father.
The current owner bought the car directly from Michel Romeyer in 1997: at the time, the car was still awaiting restoration by the Haute-Loire collector. A full restoration was undertaken at the time of purchase, documented by a series of photos available on request. Little used since, the car is still drivable, but will require a general overhaul before it can be driven on French roads again.
This is a unique opportunity to add to your collection a car with an extraordinary history, the last survivor of the most exclusive French sports coupé of its time, and the prototype that inspired the Salmson 2300 S. Don’t miss your chance, it’s not likely to come around again any time soon!
https://www.aguttes.com/lot/160416/55b45c14-1f2f-4e51-bb7d-4a8b02722889
