French hillclimb specials make us acquisitive

• 
• 
• 
• 

When you have ever been to the Montlhéry circuit, just south of Paris, you know about the atmosphere there. It’s a bit like Brooklands, but then still fully intact, and what’s more: still in use. Auctioneer Aguttes builds up its sales circus on the 30th of this month and they bring over some cars that – we think – fit very well at this particular place. Forget the Porsches, Volkswagens and Mercedeses and even that AC Aceca prototype on the cover of the sales booklet. We want to see French stuff here. No, not those 205s, Clios and not even that rare Venturi is making us ‘acquisitive’. But there is a French duo that does.

Aguttes presents here a DS, which they describe as a prototype. It’s certainly no factory effort to update the model in 1971, but what a lovely obscurity it is! The brainchild of motor sports enthusiasts Christian Derest and Raymond Girardin, with the idea to make a lightweight car for hillclimbing. Coachbuilder was Jacky Boulangier, who spent 415 hours of panel beating into the project. When you look well you may discover parts from plenty of other Citroen models. Remarkably, the engine is placed in a 180 Degrees turn. The transmission, steering and braking system were all redesigned. The story doesn’t tell if the car was ever successful (it probably wasn’t), but we’d say this gem is truly worth of an extensive restoration. Even though it doesn’t come with paperwork…

The second car we fell far undoubtly comes from the same collection. It’s a Matra Djet but not as we know it. Like the DS it is advertised as a prototype also and was made purely for competition use once again. Tthis time by coachbuilder Marcel Moissonnier, who used it in hillclimbs and slaloms. And once more it was modified heavily. You can see that from the outside, but the same goes for what’s under the bonnet again. Moissonnier fitted an Alpine 1600 engine bored out to two-litre capacity and mated to a R12 Gordinbi gearbox. Again, also, it comes with no paperwork whatsoever. But we trust you can have fun with it on any track. Montlhéry in particular.

(Words editor, pictures courtesy Aguttes)

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.