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a white car that is parked in the grassan old black and white photo of a man sitting in the driver ' s seat of a cara white car that is parked in the grassa close up of a white car with a black roofa brown leather seat in the back of a trucka small engine in the back of a white cara close up of a car ' s dashboard with a beer in ita white car with a brown seat and a brown bag on top of ita brown leather seat and steering wheel in a cara brown car with a steering and a brown seata white car that is parked in the grassan old rusted car with a flat tire in a field
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112 - 1937 DE SOTO S3 CONVERTIBLE
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Estimate €60,000 - €80,000
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Description
1937 DE SOTO S3 CONVERTIBLE Chassis number 5160000 Collector’s registration certificate An American car in the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Certain cars bring us closer to those who drove them. This 1937 DeSoto S3, which belonged to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, evokes a lesser-known side of the writer-aviator: his passion for cars and the thrill of the open road. With only 992 examples produced in its Convertible Coupé version, the S3 combines generous styling with a 3.7-litre six-cylinder engine. Its long bonnet, curved wings and retractable rear seat give it all the character of a late 1930s American convertible. A car designed for comfortable travel, whose understated elegance remains deeply appealing to this day. The history of this particular car takes us back to the roads around Lyon and to Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens, where Saint-Exupéry spent part of his childhood. According to local recollections reported by the collector Franck Béjat, the author is said to have left behind a reputation as a driver with a penchant for speed… Moreover, a number of accounts recount amusing episodes and confirm ‘Saint-Ex’s’ attachment to his American car: ‘His spacious convertible, crammed with treasures’ As a one-off exception, Captain de Saint-Exupéry kept his spacious De Soto convertible with him whilst serving in the Armed Forces, crammed with treasures that followed him from one barracks to the next. And so, sometimes in the evening, as we left the mess hall via the dark, muddy street on the corner of which the farmhouse where he lived stood, he’d whisper to me: ‘Tonight, doc, instead of philosophy, shall we have a concert?’ We understood each other perfectly then, without a word being spoken; thanks to his record-changer turntable (a marvel in those days), we’d put together a programme of 17th- and 18th-century music, of which he carried with him a staggering collection—including some rather rare recordings… (Text: ‘ICARE’ AIRLINE PILOTS’ MAGAZINE) Another of his contemporaries also recounts this anecdote: He would sometimes take us on breathtaking drives in his new De Soto, which he would drive at 140 an hour along the potholed, cobbled roads of eastern France. His passengers remembered his baffling habit of slowing down to a crawl, or suddenly accelerating, depending on the intensity of the conversation. It was in Saint-Exupéry’s car that members of the patrol faced their greatest danger... (Text: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE LITTLE PRINCE) And despite the gruelling pace this DeSoto seems to have endured at the hands of its illustrious driver, it has reached us 80 years later still going strong! Acquired by Franck Béjat in 2011 in a swap for three classic cars, this DeSoto has been carefully preserved ever since. A file of invoices shows that its owner has kept it in running order. Between 2011 and 2019, extensive mechanical and bodywork upgrades were carried out, not to mention work on the interiors. Since then, the car has been driven from time to time. This De Soto was exhibited at Époqu’Auto in 2019, as part of a tribute to the writer. Its presence was also mentioned in *La Lettre d’Antoine*, which notes that it once belonged to Saint-Exupéry. With its unusual make and its history, this DeSoto combines two attractions that collectors appreciate: the pleasure of a pre-war car and its link to a unique life story. To take the wheel of this piece of motoring heritage, open the soft top and set off along country roads is, in its own way, to continue the story of this American car that has become a memento of Saint-Exupéry. 1937 — DeSoto S3 Convertible Serial number 5160000 French historic vehicle registration An American car in the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Some cars bring us closer to the people who drove them. This 1937 DeSoto S3, once owned by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, reveals a less familiar side of the writer and aviator: his enthusiasm for cars and the pleasures of the open road. One of just 992 examples produced in the Convertible Coupé form, the S3 combines generous proportions with a 3.7-litre six-cylinder engine. Its long bonnet, sweeping wings and fold-out rear dickey seat give it the unmistakable character of a late-1930s American convertible. Designed for comfortable touring, its understated elegance remains appealing to this day. This car’s history takes us back to the roads around Lyon and to Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens, where Saint-Exupéry spent part of his childhood. According to local recollections gathered by collector Franck Béjat, the author was remembered there as a driver with a taste for speed… Several accounts describe entertaining episodes and reveal ‘Saint-Ex’s’ attachment to his American car: “His large convertible, packed with treasures” As a special exception, Captain de Saint-Exupéry is allowed to keep his large De Soto convertible with him whilst serving in the armed forces, packed with treasures that follow him from one posting to the next. Sometimes, in the evening, as we leave the mess hall along the dark, muddy street on the corner of which stands the farmhouse where he lives, he quietly asks me: “Tonight, Doc, how about a concert instead of philosophy?” At this, we understand each other perfectly, without another word. Thanks to his record player with its automatic record changer—a marvel at the time—we put together a programme of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century music, drawing on the astonishing collection of recordings, some of them rare, that he carries with him… (Source: REVUE PILOTES DE LIGNE “ICARE”) Another contemporary recounts this anecdote: He would sometimes suggest breathtaking drives in his new De Soto, which he drove at 140 km/h along the potholed and cobbled roads of eastern France. His passengers remembered his disconcerting habit of slowing to a crawl or suddenly accelerating, depending on the intensity of the conversation. It was in Saint-Exupéry’s car that members of the patrol faced their greatest danger… (Source: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE LITTLE PRINCE) Despite the gruelling treatment this DeSoto appears to have endured at the hands of its famous driver, it has come down to us eighty years later still going strong! Franck Béjat acquired the car in 2011 in exchange for three classic cars, and it has been carefully preserved ever since. A file of invoices shows that its owner has kept it in working order. Between 2011 and 2019, extensive work was carried out on the mechanical components, bodywork and interior. Since then, the car has been driven occasionally. This DeSoto was exhibited at Époqu’Auto in 2019 as part of a tribute to the writer. Its appearance was also mentioned in *La Lettre d’Antoine*, which recalls its ownership by Saint-Exupéry. With its rare make and its history, this DeSoto combines two qualities that collectors appreciate: the pleasure of a pre-war car and a connection to a remarkable life. Getting behind the wheel of this piece of motoring heritage, lowering the bonnet and heading back out onto country roads offers a way to continue the story of an American car that has become a lasting reminder of Saint-Exupéry.
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About the sale Epoqu'auto: Classic cars, the official sale
Auction location
Auction time 11/08/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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