Founded in 1896 as an automotive branch of French locomotive manufacturer De Dietrich, Automobiles Lorraine-Dietrich will always be best known for its pioneering B3-6 model, which was powered by its 3.4-liter six-cylinder with pushrod overhead valves and secured the company back-to-back Le Mans victories in 1925 and 1926. It was a testament to the build quality and resilience over the arduous track and their competitors, as it would be a decade before a French car would win at home once more.

As for many manufacturers, the glory of racing wins translated into sales success, and Lorraine saw demand for copies of the race chassis through the late 1920s. This sturdy automobile was equipped with many different body styles, from large limousines and sedans to tapering torpedos reminiscent of the Le Mans winners; however, few can claim the sheer beauty of this example.

Built in 1928, the Lorraine’s frame is clothed with sporting roadster bodywork by the lesser-known Parisian firm H. de Corvaïa & Cie., which supplied coachwork to a number of French manufacturers, including Hotchkiss and Delage. In addition to building its own bodywork, the firm also provided designs executed by other coachbuilders, such as Pourtout – invariably they were particularly rakish in their stance. One of a pair of surviving Lorraines in this configuration, it features carryovers from the Le Mans cars, including the same racing instruments and engine modifications. Its low windshield, lack of running boards, light “helmet” fenders, and tail-mounted spare provide a dramatic and sinister appearance, not unlike American hot rods of the 1950s, but years ahead of its time.

This Lorraine’s early French history is sadly lost to time, but its tale picks up in 1968, when Chicago-based car collector Irv Silverman discovered the sports roadster while sleuthing for cars in the south of France. He shipped the car to the US and passed it on to Rik Christensen in 1972.

As the Mullin collection gathered momentum at the start of the 2000s, a variety of the more obscure French marques would join the collection’s Bugattis, Delages, and Hispano-Suizas; this was one such automobile acquired in 2002. The Lorraine underwent an extensive restoration by noted French car specialist and Pebble Beach Best of Show winner Sargent Metal Works, respecting its design aspects and detail features from which it emerged late in that decade.

Reflecting the quality of the workmanship, on its debut at Pebble Beach in 2010, it was awarded Second in Class. A selection of concours appearances followed, including at the 2011 La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, where it again earned Second in Class. Later that year, it drew all the attention at the Ventura Motorsport Gathering, where it was awarded First in Class and Best in Show. This fabulous Lorraine continues to present in excellent order, offering its next owner the chance to experience its technical Le Mans pedigree and the best in French design.