1939 Salmson S4E Tourer Project
Chassis no. to be advised

'For 1939 two models were made, the 1,730cc S4-61 and the 2,312cc S4E. The latter had hydraulic brakes, torsion bar front suspension instead of transverse springs and a slightly longer wheelbase, though body styles, now reduced to three, were similar and there was little to distinguish the two models externally.' – 'The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile'.

The French Société Des Moteurs Salmson was a pioneering force in the development of aircraft and aero-engines. Indeed, many historians consider Salmson's as the most notable of the radial aero-engines produced during WWI. When war was over, Salmson diversified into other activities including manufacturing machine tools and automobile bodies, and from 1919 onwards produced a lightweight cyclecar - a built-under license GN - of which several thousand were made. The first of Salmson's own designs, a sidevalve-engined voiturette, appeared in 1921. From 1922 Salmson commenced production of a more advanced engine of the twin-overhead-camshaft type. This kind of power unit had been seen prior to WWI but Salmson was the first to put one into series production and twin-overhead-camshaft engines would remain a fixture of its range into the 1950s.

This S4E was purchased as a body-less rolling chassis from John Champ in 1997, since when it has been stripped and partially rebuilt with the beginnings of a new body. It had been the late owner's intention to install a more robust engine to create a VSCC-eligible sports special. This Lot is sold strictly as viewed.