GORDINI 8 1937 for sale

The very first Gordini prepared by the wizard - One of the three Simca-Gordini 8 Clear history - Kept for 26 years by its current owner Eligible for Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Revival and the most prestigious competitions Amédée Gordini is a mechanic and driver who became a preparer and manufacturer who founded his brand Gordini, and who would eventually become the sporting accomplice of Renault with whom he would often be associated. His legend was born in the mid-1930s in the suburbs of Paris where this Italian native transformed the mechanics of French Fiats manufactured under license by Simca and called "Simca-Fiat". His experiments, from adjustments to transformations, would lead him very early to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Moreover, the Simca Gordini 8 chassis #823885 will hold a central place in the History of the "Wizard" as he would be called upon to drive it himself. Engaged in pre-war races at the Bol d'Or where Amédée Gordini would win, at Le Mans, at Spa-Francorchamps as well as in the most prestigious post-war events, its history is remarkable! For many, it is the first "real Gordini" that Ascott Collection is pleased to offer you today for sale. Amedeo Gordini, born in 1899, became passionate about automotive mechanics at an early age during its boom. In contact with the best, he would forge a complete experience. At 11 years old he was hired at the Fiat subsidiary in Bologna under the direction of Edoardo Weber, who taught him all the secrets of carburetor tuning, at the time the most difficult device to tune in an engine. In 1920, he worked in the engine department of Isotta Fraschini with Alfieri Maserati. His ties with the Italian brand would allow him to become very close to engineer Giacomo Nuvolari. In 1925, thanks to his experience in the parent company, he arrived in Paris to join the workshop "Duval e Cattaneo", Isotta Fraschini dealer for France. In 1926 he would open his own workshop in Suresnes thus becoming a Fiat dealer. He is very close to SAFAF, a French company that, in the interwar period, imported Fiats to dress them in France and thus circumvent certain regulations or taxes on imports that were common at the time. SAFAF became the Société industrielle de mécanique et carrosserie automobile (Simca) in 1934 when the enthusiasm for the 6CV was so strong that Fiat understood that it was necessary to organize production and centralize it in one place. Gordini knew these "French Fiats" and knew they were an excellent base to let his creativity speak. For advertising purposes, Simca would allow Gordini to prepare the cars for competition at his own expense (he would pay himself with any bonuses for results). Gordini prepared a 514 Torpedo to participate in the Suresnes Hill Climb, an event that took place on Mont Valérien. The prize was awarded to the slowest car! Not only did he win the event in 1933 and 1934, but he also obtained the title of "king of slow drivers". His work would accelerate with the Simca 5 (the French version of the Fiat 500 Topolino A) and then the Fiat 508 C! In the summer of 1937, Amédée Gordini secretly received one of the very first Fiat Balilla 508 C type 8, marketed under the name Fiat 1100 in Italy and Simca 8 in France. His mission: to transform it into a racing car, with the formal prohibition to unveil it before Simca's agreement. The production model was not to be presented until the Paris Motor Show that same year. In his workshop in Suresnes, Gordini immediately proceeded to dismantle the bodywork. The chassis underwent numerous reinforcements and the suspension was strengthened. The brake drums were replaced with aluminum components equipped with Rudge hubs and wire-spoke wheels with steel rims. The fuel tank also changed position, from rear overhang it was repositioned in the center of the cabin, on the right to balance the weight of the driver. The engine preparation followed Gordini's proven methods: shaving the cylinder head, meticulous polishing of the combustion chambers and ducts, balancing the crankshaft and connecting rods, lightening the flywheel. For the bodywork, Amédée Gordini designed a body inspired by the two previous Simca Cinq Gordini, but with the fenders integrated into the central part. "It is the carpenter Launay from Suresnes, who draws the large plan to scale 1 explains Christian Huet, author of the book Gordini, a wizard, a team. Gabriel Beausser, bodyworker hired by Gordini in 1936, skillfully hammers the 1mm thick aluminum sheet and 0.8mm thick duralumin. The whole is very streamlined with the right door smaller than the left and the underside of the chassis, fully streamlined. The grille, adorned with the Simca-Fiat emblem, takes the shape of c