One of only three Simca-Gordini 8s assembled.
Amédée Gordini was a mechanic, racing driver, tuner and manufacturer who founded the Gordini brand. He eventually became associated with Renault, for whom he worked as a sporting partner. His legend began in the mid-1930s in the Paris suburbs, where he transformed the powertrains of French Fiat cars manufactured under licence by Simca and known as 'Simca-Fiat'. His experiments, ranging from adjustments to complete overhauls, led him to the Le Mans 24 Hours very early on. Simca Gordini 8 chassis #823885 played a central role in the history of the 'Sorcerer', as Gordini himself drove it. Competing in pre-war races at the Bol d’Or, where Amédée Gordini secured victory, as well as at Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, and in the most prestigious events of the post-war period, her history is truly outstanding! For many, she represents the first "genuine Gordini," and Ascott Collection is delighted to present her for sale today.
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When Amedeo Gordini became Amédée
Gordini was born in 1899 and developed a passion for motoring at a very early age. Working with the best, he built up a wealth of experience. At the age of 11, he was hired by the Fiat subsidiary in Bologna, where he was taught by Edoardo Weber all the secrets of carburettor adjustment — the most difficult engine component to adjust at the time. In 1920, he joined the engine department at Isotta Fraschini alongside Alfieri Maserati. His links with the Italian marque enabled him to form a close friendship with the engineer, Giacomo Nuvolari. Thanks to his experience at the parent company, in 1925 he moved to Paris to join the Duval et Cattaneo workshop, the Isotta Fraschini dealer for France.
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In 1926, he opened his own workshop in Suresnes and became a Fiat dealer. He had close ties with SAFAF, a French company that imported Fiat cars and fitted them out in France between the wars, thus circumventing certain regulations and import taxes that were commonplace at the time. In 1934, SAFAF became the Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile (SIMCA), after the 6CV became so popular that Fiat realised it needed to organise and centralise production. Gordini was familiar with these 'French Fiat' cars and knew they would provide an excellent foundation for his work. For publicity purposes, Simca allowed Gordini to prepare the cars for competition at his own expense (he received payment from any results bonuses).
Gordini prepared a 514 Torpedo to take part in the Course de Côte de Suresnes, an event held on Mont Valérien. The prize was awarded to the slowest car! Not only did Gordini win the event in both 1933 and 1934, he also earned the title of 'King of Slow Drivers'.
He then moved on to the Simca 5 (the French version of the Fiat 500 Topolino A) and finally the Fiat 508 C.
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The Fiat Balilla 508 C Type 8 became the Simca-Gordini 8.
In the summer of 1937, Amédée Gordini secretly acquired one of the first Fiat 508 C 8s, which was marketed as the Fiat 1100 in Italy and the Simca 8 in France. His mission was to transform it into a racing car, but he was strictly forbidden to unveil it until Simca had given its approval. The production model was not due to be presented until the Paris Motor Show that same year.
At his workshop in Suresnes, Gordini immediately dismantled the bodywork. The chassis was extensively reinforced and the damping was strengthened. The brake drums were replaced with aluminium units fitted with Rudge hubs and wire-spoke wheels with sheet-metal rims. The fuel tank was also relocated from the rear overhang to the centre of the cockpit on the right-hand side to counterbalance the rider's weight.
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Engine preparation followed Gordini's tried-and-tested methods: planning the cylinder head, meticulously polishing the combustion chambers and ducts, balancing the crankshaft and connecting rods, and lightening the flywheel. As for the bodywork, Amédée Gordini designed a body inspired by the previous two Simca Cinq Gordinis, with wings integrated into the central section.
"It was Launay, a carpenter from Suresnes, who drew the large 1:1 scale plan," explains Christian Huet, author of the book Gordini, un sorcier, une équipe. Gabriel Beausser, a sheet metal worker hired by Gordini in 1936, hammered out the 1 mm aluminium and 0.8 mm duralumin sheet metal with great dexterity. The overall shape is very streamlined, with the right-hand door smaller than the left and the underside of the chassis fully streamlined. The radiator grille, adorned with the Simca-Fiat badge, echoes the heart shape of the Simca 8.
Amédée Gordini was soon nicknamed the 'Sorcerer'. Charles Faroux, boss of the newspaper L'Auto, gave him this nickname after describing the performance of the Simca 5 Gordini at Le Mans, where it won the index ranking in 1937, 1938 and 1939, as the work of witchcraft.
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#823885 won the 1938 Bol d'Or with Amédée Gordini and took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in 1938 and 1939.
Amédée Gordini modified and raced three Simca 8s: 823885 in 1937, 803247 in 1938, and 810404 in 1939. Other Simca 8s competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours, but these were not prepared by Gordini.
The first race in which #823885 took part was the Bol d'Or. Held at Montlhéry, Gordini won the race by driving the car alone for 24 hours. Covering 2,456.334 kilometres at an average speed of 102.347 kph, the 'little' Simca-Fiat beat all the 1,100cc cars, as well as the 1,500cc sports cars. This success was built upon as the other competitors experienced mechanical issues. After six hours of racing, Breillet (in another Simca-Fiat) was leading the 1,100 cm³ class by one lap over Gordini, but four laps behind the race leader. By the halfway point, Breillet and Gordini were neck and neck, two laps behind the leader. Then, with six hours remaining, Gordini was alone in first place, with a lead of up to ten laps! A milestone victory!
In 1926, he opened his own workshop in Suresnes and became a Fiat dealer. He competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours twice, in 1938 and 1939, and won the 1938 Bol d'Or with Amédée Gordini. Three Simca 8s were modified and raced by Amédée Gordini: #823885 in 1937, #803247 in 1938, and #823885 in 1939. Two weeks later, #823885 competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours. With the number 38 painted on the side and front grille, Jean Breillet and Jean Viale were forced to retire after 111 laps due to an oil line problem.
We would see #823885 again at the 1939 Le Mans 24 Hours, the last edition before the Second World War. Now in the hands of Guy Lapchin and Claude Plantivaux, the Simca-Gordini 8 finished 13th overall and second in class. Amédée Gordini's success was complete as he won the class in another Simca 8 (chassis 810404), achieving a resounding one-two finish ahead of the Morgan 4/4, Singer Nine Le Mans, and other MG PAs and PBs.
Between these two Le Mans appearances, #822835 competed in some of the most emblematic endurance races and Grand Prix in France during this period: the Grand Prix de La Baule, the Coupe de Nantes and the 12 Heures de Paris. It also took part in the Tourist Trophy, winning its class, and competed in the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours.
After the Second World War, the car was sold to the Ecurie Blanche et Noire, and then to the brothers Albert and Adrien Alin, who entered it in several Grand Prix races. Acquired in 1947 by Jacques Lapaillerie, the car was converted to right-hand drive and fitted with a large windscreen. Lapaillerie entered it in several races, including the 1950 Bol d'Or. The car's last known race was the 1953 Grand Prix de Bordeaux, where it finished in fourth place.
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Preserved for over three decades in the Bec-Hellouin museum, and since 1999 by its current owner
In 1963, Jacques Lapaillerie sold the Simca Gordini 8 to Christian Chassaing de Borredon, who displayed it in his Bec-Hellouin museum from 1968 onwards. Following his death, his wife sold it to Jean-Paul Lafuge in 1993. Mr Jacques Ribourel then acquired it and sold it to Mr Bernard. The current owner acquired this 24 Hours of Le Mans veteran from the latter in 1999. It has thus spent the last 26 years in our seller's collection!
As a pre-war car with a fully traceable history and a particularly rich racing pedigree, it is no surprise that it has been exhibited numerous times at leading shows and events. It was presented at the inaugural Le Mans Classic in 2012 and again in 2018, winning the FIVA Le Mans Heritage Club award on the latter occasion.
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This superb Simca Gordini 8 is a veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other prestigious pre- and post-war races. Its patina is a testament to its full life and rich history. On the road, it is nimble and fast, and it's easy to see why Amédée Gordini was nicknamed 'the Sorcerer'. These pre-war French cars certainly won't stop turning heads any time soon...
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Racing History
June 6-7, 1938 – Bol d'Or – Amédée Gordini (Gordini Team) – Winner (#30)
June 18-19, 1938 – 24 Hours of Le Mans – Jean Breillet / Jean Viale (Gordini Team) – Did not finish (#38)
July 9-10, 1938 – Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours – Jean Breillet / Jean Viale (Gordini Team) – Did not finish (#62)
August 20, 1938 – Grand Prix of La Baule – Jean Breillet (Gordini Team) – 7th place (#8)
September 3, 1938 – Tourist Trophy – Jean Breillet / Albert Debille (Gordini Team) – 7th overall and class winner (#31)
September 11, 1938 – 12 Hours of Paris (Paris-Nice) – Jean Breillet / Albert Debille (Gordini Team) – Did not finish (#66)
September 25, 1938 – Lapize Hillclimb – Jean Breillet (Gordini Team) – Class 1st (#127)
May 5, 1939 – Olazur Rally – Robert Cailleux (Gordini Team) – 7th (#4)
May 7, 1939 – Olazur Grand Handicap – Robert Cailleux (Gordini Team) – 2nd (#4)
June 17-18, 1939 – 24 Hours of Le Mans – Guy Lapchin & Claude Plantivaux (Gordini Team) – 13th overall & 2nd in class (#41)
July 9, 1939 – Sports Commission Cup – Joseph Paul (Gordini Team) – 6th overall & 3rd in class (#32)
September 9, 1945 – Robert Benoist Cup – Robert Cayeux (Blanche et Noire Team) – 7th overall & 3rd in class (#3)
April 22, 1946 – Mediterranean Cup – Albert Alin (Albert Alin) – 4th (#10)
May 12, 1946 – Marseille Grand Prix (ACMP Sporting Commission Cup) – Albert Alin (Albert Alin) – 8th (#7)
May 19, 1946 – Forez Grand Prix (St. Etienne City Cup) – Albert Alin (Albert Alin) – 4th (#7)
June 9, 1946 – Saint Cloud Grand Prix (Municipal Council Cup) – Albert Alin (Albert Alin) – 8th (#33)
June 16, 1946 – Belgian GP, 1,100cc support race – José Scaron (Gordini Team) – 3rd (#12)
July 8, 1946 – Burgundy Grand Prix – Albert Alin (Albert Alin) – 8th (#34)
July 28, 1946 – Nantes Cup – Albert Alin (Albert Alin) – 12th (#7)
March 14, 1950 – Lesparre-Médoc – Jacques Lapaillerie (Jacques Lapaillerie) – Did not finish (#26)
June 3-4, 1950 – Bol d'Or – Jacques Lapaillerie (Jacques Lapaillerie) – Did not finish (#31)
March 3, 1953 – Bordeaux Grand Prix – Jacques Lapaillerie (Jacques Lapaillerie) – 4th (#28)
Photo credit: Kevin Van Campenhout for Ascott collection