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an image of an old model t car on a checkered floora very old car that is sitting on a checkered floora couch and a table in the back of a cara black leather couch and a red leather chair in a rooma red and black car with a gold handlebar on ita close up of an old car engine with wires attached to ita red car that is sitting on a checkered floora close up of a model of a car on displaya close up of a machine that has a bunch of bottles on ita close up of a wooden suitcase with a bunch of bottles on ita close up of an old fashioned car with a clock on the front of ita close up of a car ' s emblem on the front of it
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43 - 1909 Rolland Pilain Type C 12/16 HP Demi-Limousine.
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Estimate €30,000 - €50,000
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Description
1909 Rolland Pilain Type C 12/16 HP Demi-Limousine. Collector’s registration document Chassis-Engine No. 328 Only two owners in 117 years Extensive documentation (history and invoices) Regularly serviced. Parts and accessories. In this age of artificial intelligence and all-screen technology, allow me to take you on a journey back in time through the fascinating history of this car. Imagine… take a leap back 117 years to find yourself at 129 Rue Victor Hugo in Tours, in front of the Rolland-Pilain factories. It is 24 June 1909, and you are greeted by one of the brand’s mechanics for the handover of your Rolland Pilain Type C 12/16 HP, fitted with a half-limousine body by the coachbuilder Bernin, a neighbour of the factory at 82 Rue Victor Hugo. This is the story of the R-P chassis-engine No. 328 that we are presenting to you; purchased by Lieutenant Durouchoux two months earlier, as evidenced by the letters and invoices from the period included in the file. For once, we can say that this car’s history is very well documented! From its delivery in 1909 right up to the lieutenant’s departure for the war, we even have its service logbook with details of consumables and fuel. The pages of this logbook stop being filled in on 31 July 1914. Lieutenant Durouchoux, who had since been promoted to captain, did not return from the war, but the car was carefully preserved by his family and repainted black as a sign of mourning. It was soon put into storage on blocks until 1924, when the eldest son, having obtained his driving licence, brought the car back into service to take his mother and his five brothers and sisters to Sunday mass. As the years passed, the car was once again put into storage until 1978. On 4 January 1978, it was acquired by our seller, who then began a meticulous restoration, retaining all the original parts with the exception of the dashboard panel, which was replaced. It was also during this restoration that the Rolland-Pilain was repainted in its original colour. Today, this car is a true testament to French motoring heritage, in a very fine condition considering its 117 years, and well maintained by our seller. Roadworthy, you will also have the privilege of taking home Captain Durouchoux’s dust cover. Although the leather lining of the clutch is regularly greased with ox-foot oil, replacement of this cone clutch lining should be planned for optimal performance. For the record, the Rolland-Pilain brand was founded in November 1905, not in the Paris region, as one might expect, but a little further south, on the banks of the Loire, in Tours. Like other manufacturers of the time (such as De Dion-Bouton), the brand owes its origins to a gentleman’s passion for the automobile, as well as his meeting with a talented mechanic named Émile Pilain. 1909 Rolland Pilain Type C 12/16 HP Demi-Limousine. Vehicle registration document (collector’s edition) Chassis-Engine No. 328 Only two owners in 117 years Significant documentation (history and invoices) Regularly maintained. Parts and accessories. In this age of artificial intelligence and all-screen technology, allow me to take you on a journey back in time through the fascinating history of this car. Imagine… take a leap back 117 years to find yourself at 129 Rue Victor Hugo in Tours, in front of the Rolland-Pilain factories. It is 24 June 1909; you are greeted by a brand mechanic for the delivery of your Rolland Pilain Type C 12/16 HP, bodied as a half-limousine by the coachbuilder Bernin, a neighbour of the factory at 82 Rue Victor Hugo. This is the story of the R-P chassis-engine No. 328 that we are presenting to you; purchased by Lieutenant Durouchoux two months earlier, as evidenced by the letters and invoices from the period included in the file. For once, we can say that this car’s history is very well documented! From its delivery in 1909 right up to the lieutenant’s departure for the war, we even have its service logbook with details of consumables and fuel. The pages of this logbook stop being filled in on 31 July 1914. Lieutenant Durouchoux, who had since been promoted to captain, did not return from the war, but the car was carefully preserved by his family and repainted black as a sign of mourning. It was soon put into storage on blocks until 1924, when the eldest son, having obtained his driving licence, brought the car back into service to take his mother and his five brothers and sisters to mass on Sundays. As the years passed, the car was once again stored on blocks until 1978. On 4 January 1978, it was acquired by our seller, who then began a meticulous restoration, retaining all the original components except for the dashboard panel, which was replaced. It was also during this restoration that the Rolland-Pilain was repainted in its original colour. Today, this car stands as a true testament to France’s motoring heritage, in very fine condition considering its 117 years, and well maintained by our seller. Roadworthy, you will also have the privilege of taking home Captain Durouchoux’s dust cover. Although the leather lining of the clutch is regularly greased with ox-foot oil, replacement of this cone clutch lining should be planned for optimal use. For the record, the Rolland-Pilain brand was founded in November 1905, not in the Paris region, as one might expect, but a little further south, on the banks of the Loire, in Tours. Like other manufacturers of the time (such as De Dion-Bouton), the brand owes its origins to a gentleman’s passion for the automobile, as well as his meeting with a talented mechanic named Émile Pilain.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Classic cars
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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