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4 - 1956 – Salmson 2300 S convertible conversion
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Estimate €50,000 - €70,000
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Description
1956 – Salmson 2300 S convertible conversion A tribute to one of the last surviving examples of the golden age of French coachbuilding ✨ ‘The Hidden Treasures of the Périgord’ Collection ✨ French registration certificate Chassis no. 85232 - A stylish and historic French Grand Tourer with impressive performance - A coupé converted into a convertible based on the design by the famous coachbuilder Chapron - One of the very last examples built, featuring a ZF manual gearbox - Clear history with a single owner for over 50 years! - Conversion and cosmetic restoration in the mid-2010s; in fine condition - Car has 15,658 km on the odometer; due for a service; well known to the Amicale Salmson Find the full catalogue for the ‘Rétromania’ auction, which includes this lot, on the Collector Cars Auction (CCA) website. The file and additional photos for each vehicle are available via the following Drive link (access must be requested): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aluJ7ZZJvUKBib-4eJDbaGH6vxu5ePC4 Estimate: €50,000 / €70,000 In the early 1950s, the French motor industry was operating in a difficult economic climate, characterised by taxation that penalised high-capacity models and by increasingly fierce competition in the luxury car market. True to its philosophy, Salmson nevertheless continued to develop a high-end car, prioritising technical refinement, build quality and performance over mass production. It was against this backdrop that the Salmson 2300 S was unveiled at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, in the main hall of the Grand Palais; this was the last model developed entirely by Salmson before the company ceased car production in 1957. As the successor to the S4-61, it was designed to carry on the brand’s tradition of Grand Tourisme cars, whose reputation had been forged as early as the 1920s thanks to particularly sophisticated mechanical solutions, exemplified in particular by the early adoption of the double overhead camshaft. The 2300 S is based on a chassis derived from that of the S4-61, which has been extensively modernised, and is fitted with a new 2,300 cm³ four-cylinder engine with twin overhead camshafts. Powered by two Solex carburettors, it produces around 110 ch SAE and is mated to a four-speed Cotal electromagnetic gearbox, operated from the steering column via a selector lever nicknamed the ‘moutardier’. This powertrain enabled the coupé to reach nearly 180 km/h, placing it amongst the highest-performing French cars in its class. True to its sporting heritage, the Salmson 2300 S also enjoyed a distinguished career in motorsport. From the moment it appeared, it distinguished itself in the major road races of the era, notably winning its class at the Coupe des Alpes and achieving brilliant results at the Liège–Rome–Liège, the Monte Carlo Rally, the Tour de France Automobile and the Lyon–Charbonnières Rally. It also competed in major international events such as the Mille Miglia, confirming the performance, reliability and handling qualities of this French Grand Tourer. The bodywork was crafted using traditional methods. The first examples were built by Esclassan, before Henri Chapron took over production from 1954 onwards for the majority of the models. Without altering the model’s overall aesthetics, several minor changes were made over the course of its production run, notably to the roof, the front end and certain trim elements. A few chassis were also fitted with bodywork by Motto and Pichon-Parat. The interior reflects the 2300 S’s high-end positioning, with a refined finish, a full range of instruments and high-quality materials. Like many prestigious French cars of the 1950s, its manufacture remained essentially artisanal, with each example benefiting from hand-assembled and hand-finished components. As the last production car marketed by Salmson, the 2300 S brings to a close nearly forty years of an industrial adventure during which the brand established itself as one of France’s most remarkable representatives of Grand Tourisme cars and precision engineering. Production of the Salmson 2300 S is generally accepted to have totalled 236 examples between 1953 and 1957, of which only five were built as convertibles by Henri Chapron; all of these have now been identified and recorded. Whilst the exact number of surviving coupés is more difficult to establish, as their production remained limited from the outset, they are nonetheless highly sought-after, particularly due to their broad eligibility in national and international historic racing events. The Salmson 2300 S from the ‘Les Trésors cachés du Périgord’ collection that we are presenting here was converted from a coupé into a convertible. This conversion was naturally inspired by the very rare open-top examples produced by the Chapron coachbuilder, whose design faithfully replicated the lines of the original coupé and lent itself relatively easily to such an adaptation. This particular example thus stands out for its exceptionally exclusive nature, offering the rare pleasure of enjoying this exceptional car with the wind in your hair. It also captivates with its remarkable history and unique features. Indeed, according to information provided by the Salmson Club, the car was ordered on 23 March 1956 from Trolliet, the Salmson dealer in Lyon, by the Descollonges perfume company, based in Villeurbanne. It was delivered a few weeks later, on 8 June 1956. On that occasion, it was most likely registered under the number 2801 AQ 69, which it retained until recently, as it was subsequently acquired by the current owner in 1976, whilst the previous owner had owned it since 1964, under the same registration number. It has therefore likely had only three owners, and in any case, the last one has owned it for over half a century! The Salmson Club has also informed us that this 2300 S was originally painted in ‘Bleu Tropical’, a shade slightly darker than the current colour. According to the Salmson Amicale, it is also highly likely that the ZF manual gearbox with floor-mounted gear lever fitted to the car is the original one. The manufacturer’s archives do indeed indicate that a few examples were delivered with this transmission as a replacement for the traditional Cotal electromagnetic gearbox. This hypothesis is all the more credible given that this is one of the very last examples produced, with only five chassis having been manufactured after this one. In the mid-2010s, after forty years of loyal service, the owner undertook the conversion of the coupé into a convertible. At the same time, the car also underwent a cosmetic restoration, including a full repaint, completely reupholstered seats, and the creation of a soft top and its cover by a specialist craftsman. Today, the car, which has 15,658 km on the odometer and has been driven very little since then, is therefore in excellent overall condition. It features a bright light blue paintwork, paired with a navy blue leather interior, with a matching soft top and carpet. The spoked wheels with chrome wheel caps and the Nardi steering wheel in aluminium and wood, along with the four-bar grille and fog lights, complete the specification. Mechanically, the car runs satisfactorily. However, a routine service is recommended before undertaking long journeys, given its limited use in recent years. Nevertheless, a brief test drive on the beautiful roads of the Périgord proved very enjoyable. A reminder of Henri Chapron’s extremely rare convertible version of an already rare and exclusive model, this Salmson 2300 S is one of the very last cars produced at Boulogne-Billancourt. A true testament to the history of the French motor car, it combines first-rate historical interest with recognised performance, as evidenced by the model’s brilliant racing career. But it is above all the opportunity to enjoy it with the top down that makes it an absolutely unique car: a true collector’s car, as rare as it is desirable.
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About the sale Retromania
Auction location
Auction time 08/30/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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