1904 C.G.V. Type 75

2063roadFrance

Engine: Replacement 75 hp unit of similar configuration and capacity to original, sourced from a Seagrave fire engine; original four-speed transmission and dual-chain drive retained
Colour: Light cream with black fenders

The 1904 C.G.V. Type 75 is a large French touring car produced by Charron, Girardot et Voigt at their Puteaux factory, believed to be the sole surviving example of its type. Originally thought to have been delivered to a member of the Russian imperial family and later believed to have passed through Italy, the car was discovered in South America in the 1960s, substantially complete but missing its engine. Brought to New England, then subject to a multi-decade restoration process culminating in a five-year final restoration in Ohio, it retains the original body, frame, axles, and four-speed gearbox, and is accompanied by a dossier documenting its history.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Estimate US$350,000 – US$450,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
→ 2009Acquisition unknown
Florida-based owner (unidentified)
none documentation
Car was kept in Florida and suffered storage-related environmental damage before being sent for remedial work in Miami in mid-2009.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Member of Russian royal family (alleged)
none documentation
Believed to have taken delivery new and kept the car in France; consistent with the marque's aristocratic clientele, though unconfirmed.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Italian owner (unidentified)
none documentation
Car is thought to have passed to Italy at some point prior to its appearance in South America; details remain unverified.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Hector Mendoncino
partial documentation
Located the car in South America during the 1960s; at that time it was largely intact and original apart from a missing engine. Later transported it to New England.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Don Koleman / Competition Motors
partial documentation
Massachusetts-based custodian around 2000 who sourced a period-appropriate replacement engine from a fire-engine application and returned the car to running order before dispatching it to Florida.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2000Engine rebuild
Competition Motors
A period-compatible replacement engine of similar displacement sourced from a Seagrave fire engine was installed in place of the missing original unit, mated to the existing four-speed gearbox and dual-chain drivetrain to return the car to running condition.
Work carried out under the supervision of Don Koleman in Massachusetts.
2009Repair
Vantage Motorworks
Car was fully disassembled to address environmental deterioration that had developed during storage, then reassembled and returned to running condition by 2014.
Reassembly work attributed to Dave Heinrichs at the Miami, Florida facility.
2014Restoration
Vintage Auto & Rebuilds
A comprehensive five-year final restoration was carried out, during which the original major components were confirmed and retained; the interior was re-trimmed in blue leather.
Facility operated by Steve Littin in Ohio; interior upholstery executed by Sharp Automotive Upholstery of Elyria, Ohio.

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