Hotchkiss Gregoire

Posted on June 20, 2024 by classiccarweekly

1953 Hotchkiss Gregoire

Offered by Osenat | Fontainebleau, France | July 2024

Jean-Albert Gregoire was a French car designer responsible for the likes of the Amilcar Compound and Panhard Dyna. He was a big proponent of a front-wheel-drive layout, and in 1947, he debuted a car called the Gregoire R at the Paris Motor Show. Lacking backing to build it himself, he partnered with Hotchkiss to put it into production.

But, like the Amilcar Compound, people just weren’t read for this. It had a lightweight chassis that made use of aluminum, a front-mounted 2.2-liter flat-four that made 75-80 horsepower, front-wheel drive, and independent suspension.

Launched in 1950, the Gregoire would only be produced for a short time – until 1953, with just 247 examples completed, 235 of those being four-door sedans. Hotchkiss tried a last-ditch effort with coupes, cabriolets, and coachbuilt models, but it wasn’t enough. Passenger car production ceased completely for the company in 1955.

This example was restored in the 2000s and has an estimate of $21,000-$27,000. Click here for more info.

Grégoire Sport Cabriolet

Posted on January 21, 2015 by classiccarweekly

1958 Grégoire Sport Cabriolet by Chapron

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 6, 2015

Photo – Artcurial

Jean-Albert Grégoire founded Tracta in France in 1926. They built some beautiful, rare, front-wheel drive luxury cars up through 1934. The company may have closed before the war, but Grégoire showed off this highly-styled Sport Cabriolet in 1955 with a body by French coachbuilder Chapron.

It is powered by 2.2-liter supercharged flat-four making 120 horsepower. The car is, like Grégoire’s Tractas before it, front-wheel drive. It’s a rare, attractive car with 1950s engineering and a coachbuilt body from an era past.

Less than 10 of these were built and this one was owned by the same family for the first 50 years. It should sell for between $120,000-$155,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Artcurial in Paris.

Update: Sold $152,817.

Grégoire Phaeton

Posted on January 22, 2014 by classiccarweekly

1908 Grégoire 70.4 Phaeton by Alin et Liautard

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | February 7, 2014

Automobiles Grégoire was founded in 1902 by Pierre Joseph Grégoire in Poissy, France. Automobile manufacture commenced in 1904 and their signature look was a pear-shaped radiator.

For 1908, this was the most powerful Grégoire money could buy – the top-of-the-line four-cylinder model. This car carries sporty phaeton coachwork from French coachbuilder Alin & Liautard. It has known history only back to 1978, but has been restored to drivable condition. And that’s what is great about this car – it is perfect for old car rallies.

Grégoire closed its doors in 1924. The cars did not have a great survival rate. For example, the company built 20,000 cars in 1913 alone – yet only 60 or so Grégoire cars total are known to survive. This car should sell for between $47,500-$68,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $56,301.