1925 Guyot Spéciale GS25 2L

French title
Chassis n°10
Engine n°101

- Unique Grand Prix car
- Fully rebuilt valveless engine with compressor
- Exceptional history file

Son of a decorative ironworker from Orleans, Albert Guyot developed a passion for automobile engines from an early age and opened a garage representing Delage and Gladiator around 1905. He soon turned to motor racing where his talents as a driver, his powers of observation and technical know-how attracted the attention of the biggest marques. He became, in turn, an official driver for Delage, Rolland-Pilain, Ballot, Bignan and Duesenberg, lining up at the start of numerous international Grands Prix. In 1922, he was called on by Rolland-Pilain to help design a special Grand Prix car equipped with an 8-cylinder twin-cam engine. The following year, with many years of experience under his belt at the highest level of motor racing, he began developing his own design for a Grand Prix car, the GS25, to compete in the 1925 season. The two-seater machine was fitted with a 2-litre 6-cylinder engine and a Cozette compressor. This innovative valveless engine had just one sliding sleeve per cylinder which was patented by Burt-Mc Callum. The engine block was in aluminium, with an Alpax cylinder head, and the crankshaft was supported by seven bearings, while the tubular con rods were also fitted with bearings. This sophisticated engine produced an impressive 125 bhp. The chassis, designed by Guyot, was curved to fit the superb streamlined aluminium body. During the first part of 1925, Guyot worked full-time to refine the car, which had been entered for every Grand Prix race that season. Unfortunately, it was not ready for Montlhéry on 17 May, Indianapolis on 30 May and Francorchamps on 28 June. The test run before the Italian Grand Prix finally took place at Montlhéry on 25 August where the car finished a respectable 4th behind three Bugatti. On 6 September 1925, the Spéciale lined up for the start of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza following a satisfactory practice session in which it reached almost 190 km/h. After a quick start, the car was running in 6th place until 70 km when the Cozette compressor failed and it was forced to retire. For the final Grand Prix of the season in Spain, the car didn't arrive in time to take the start. Regulations for 1926 limited the engine size to 1500cc, and Albert Guyot turned his attention to designing a new car. The GS25 subsequently took part in several races, running in "Formule Libre" and, after the war, in the Grand-prix de l'Autoroute de l'Ouest in June 1946 driven by Roger Blanc, and at the Challenges in Montlhéry in June 1947. The car finished its competitive career on the Lesparre circuit in Gironde, in 1948.
On 8 February 1960, the GS25 was bought by an enthusiast from Dax, missing part of the rear bodywork so that it fitted into the barn where it was stored. Extensive correspondence and invoices detail the mechanical rebuild of the car that was undertaken by the Garage Moderne in Dax, starting in 1960. In 1978, it passed into the hands of an astute collector who, while overseeing a full restoration, set about retracing the car's history. He made contact with the son of Albert Guyot who shared many anecdotes and documents with him. For a Grand Prix car of this era, the amount of information gathered is exceptional. It has retained many of its original parts and the coachwork has been carefully rebuilt to be identical to the original. The Guyot was acquired by a collector from Touraine in 1991, before being bought by the current owner in 2009. With the highest standards, he has had the car mechanically rebuilt by the renowned company Ventoux Moteurs Ingénierie, when the brakes were adjusted and improved. Finally, in 2016, the gearbox and differential were refurbished by Revival Engineering, while the original Cozette carburettor was refitted. The car is in perfect running order today.
In addition to its breathtaking design, this Guyot is a carefully crafted and genuine Grand Prix car, coming with transparent and well documented history. It is stirring to approach the car and realise that this is a unique machine. Climbing into it, sitting in front of the superb original instruments and taking hold of the steering wheel, visible in certain period photos, leaves one lost for words. Connoisseurs will have no trouble recognising the exceptional opportunity on offer today.

Photos © Loïc Kernen

The auction of this lot will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-1925-guyot-speciale-gs25-2l-4134-137