Amilcar Compound B67 1939 Lot n° 25

Chassis n°1005 Engine unnumbered / Amilcar engine tumbled Hull no. 599 French collector's registration document Although we see hundreds of exceptional cars a year, it's sometimes the one we least expect that shoots us in the heart. This Amilcar hit the bull's-eye from the moment the garage door opened. The story of this Amilcar is as unique as the car itself! The first owner was Michel Fouillhoux, a well-known figure in Amilcar circles and an Amilcar garage owner in Courbevoie. When France was invaded, young Michel rushed to the Amilcar factory to shelter what was still there. He took with him our B67 compound prepared for the 1939 London Motor Show, as well as an unfinished prototype coupé. Once the war was over, the Amilcar factory closed for good, allowing Michel to keep the two cars. The Compound B67 became Michel Fouillhoux's personal car, and he kept it for almost 45 years. The current owner acquired it in 1984. Aware of the car's exceptional original condition, he enjoyed it for many years without ever altering its appearance. Our example is therefore one of the last Amilcars built. Its hull number 599 and serial number 1005 confirm that it was built in the second half of 1939. In October 1937, the real sensation of the Paris Motor Show was the work of Amilcar, freshly taken over by Hotchkiss. When it unveiled the Compound, the Pegasus brand surprised visitors, specialists and journalists, who were all pleasantly surprised by this genuine innovation. Albert Lebrun, President of the French Republic, visited the show, and in the newspaper Le Matin of the 9th of October 1937 he wrote: "At the Amilcar stand, there was a very long stop this time. The chassis of the 1938 Amilcar Compound was the real revelation of the Show, and the President of the Republic was not mistaken. He wanted to show his interest in the fine mechanical engineering applied to cars destined for the vast majority of the Grand Palais. He was received at the Amilcar stand by Mr Victor Miral, Chairman of the company, and Mr Marcel See, Managing Director, who introduced him to his young Polytechnique classmate Mr J.-A. Grégoire, whose patents form the basis of the Compound chassis in treated light alloy "stronger than the chassis of a 2-tonne lorry" created by Hotchkiss. It's not surprising that they are so beautiful," concluded the French President as he left the stand. The bodywork on display was a very elegant coach designed by Clément Vinciguerra, one of the stylists in the Hotchkiss design office. It takes up and reduces the successful lines of the Modane GS coach. Technically, the Amilcar Compound boasts innovative features thanks to its avant-garde design. The combination of steel and aluminium gave rise to the name Compound. In fact, this car is built with four main elements made of cast aluminium alloy: the canopy, the two side members and the front crossmember, while the rest of the car is made of steel. The various parts are bolted or welded together. The front wheels are driven by constant velocity joints, the steering is rack and pinion, and the suspension is four-wheel independent. The engineer responsible for designing this marvel was J.-A. Grégoire, the man who made the famous Tracta. Approved on the third of May 1938, production was scheduled for the spring but did not really start until the end of the year, just before the Motor Show. This Compound is exceptional in more than one way : Firstly, it is a very rare B67 version, as it is fitted with a tumbled engine, with a 67mm-bore block thanks to it the top speed exceed 130km/h. A world away from the engine that powered the first side-valve B38 Compounds. Only around twenty B67 prototypes were produced in 1939, and how many still exist today? It's a mystery. Secondly, the level of detail given to the interior and exterior trim is incomparable with that used on production models. The moulding, side gills, bonnet, steering wheel finish, leather and tartan interior... all suggest that our B67 was indeed a car prepared by the factory to be exhibited at a motor show. Entirely original, opening the driver's door and discovering the interior is a pure delight. All the senses are awakened, the smell of the leather, the feel of the steering wheel, the sight of the tratan, there is no false note. Well, almost! The 203’s rear lights should be removed. This is proof, if any were needed, that a well-maintained car can stand the test of time. Our test drive revealed a car that works very well. Having said that, the safety devices will need to be adjusted before taking the road again, particularly the brakes, which are a little too 'hard' for our liking. In 1984, the current owner made a promise to Mr Fouillhoux not to sell the car. Forty years on, he now feels that his promise has been kept. As you can imagine, it's time for this Amilcar to find a third owner who will give it a third lease of life, while respecting the original condition that its previous owners managed to preserve. This Compound is truly unique, in particular thanks to its fittings, which are integrated into the car with rare finesse. Our B67 is the only Coumpound with a one-piece opening bonnet, which is much more practical and attractive in the context of a show. Even the floor mat is still original! Our compound's wheel trims and old number plates will be supplied with the car. Promotional image showing the aluminium parts of the Compound. With a weight reduced to 750 kg thanks to the use of aluminium, the B67, with its tumbled engine, would have been a serious competitor to traction if Hotchkiss had not decided to close Amilcar for good at the end of the war.