Salmson 2300 S - Elevator to bankruptcy

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Salmson 2300 S - Elevator to bankruptcy

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Created on February 11, 2022

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Bonhams

18

Gerhard Schütz

3

Courtesy Bonhams

2

Bruno von Rotz

1

Peter Singhof - Courtesy Artcurial

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Archiv

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Salmson 2.3 Litre Coupé (1954) - new sports car - Geneva Motor Show 1954

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Stanislas Motte took part in the 1956 Tour de France Automobile with this car

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Hardtop Coupé without B-pillar

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Simple front with oval air intake

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Round rear with surprisingly low loading sill

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - All Salmsons were right-hand drive

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Light interior thanks to large windows

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Elegant interior with leather and soft carpeting

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Full-size rear bench seat

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Rev counter with water thermometer and fuel gauge. The speedometer contains an oil pressure gauge and ammeter

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 110 hp

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Two overhead camshafts with king-shaft drive

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Winged emblem on the hood

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Streamlined bodywork without removable fenders

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Recessed door handles like on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Elegantly recessed tail lights in Ghia style

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Large trunk and spare wheel with Michelin X-belted tires

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Rally sign of the Tour de France Automobile 1956

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Salmson Randonnée (1951) - organ donor for the 2300 S

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Salmson 2300 S (1953) - At the Paris Salon 1953

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Salmson 2300 Grand Sport (1953) - At the Paris Salon 1953

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Salmson 2300 Grand Sport (1953) - Spectacular domed roof by Pichon-Parat

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Salmson 2300 Grand Sport (1953) - Coupé by Pichon-Parat at the Paris Salon 1953

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - Early coupé with Esclassan bodywork

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Salmson 2300 S (1954) - At the 1954 Geneva Motor Show

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Salmson 2300 S (1955) - Chapron coupé with higher roof and larger rear window

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Salmson 2300 Sport Coupé (1954) - At the 5th Tour de France Automobile 1956

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Salmson 2300 Sport Coupé (1954) - At the 1956 Lyon-Charbonnières Rally

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Salmson 2300 GT (1954) - Chapron limousine shown at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show

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Salmson 2300 S (1955) - A Chapron coupé with fog lights positioned further inwards

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Salmson 2300 S (1956) - One of only eleven examples built in 1956 with the more filigree radiator grille

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Salmson 2300 S Charbonneaux Roadster (1954) - GRP one-off based on a design by Philippe Charbonneaux

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Salmson 2300 S Charbonneaux Roadster (1954) - GRP one-off based on a design by Philippe Charbonneaux

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Salmson 2300 S Charbonneaux Roadster (1954) - GRP one-off based on a design by Philippe Charbonneaux

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Salmson 2.3 Litre Sport (1953) - An early model with TAI bodywork

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Salmson 2300 S Cabriolet (1954) - Chapron creation at the Paris Salon 1954

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Salmson 2300 S Pichon-Parat (1954) - Aluminum coupé shown at the Paris Salon

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Salmson 2300 S Motto Spider (1955) - Racing car embellished with chrome trim at the 1955 Paris Motor Show

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Summary

After the war, France's Grandes Routières went downhill. When the Salmson 2300 S appeared at the end of 1953, the company was living more on credit than on its cars. The new sports car was pretty, fast, reliable and had a DOHC engine that would also have suited an Alfa Romeo. But even it couldn't prevent the end. We tell the story of the last Salmson and show it in a wealth of historical footage and in the rare sales brochure.

This article contains the following chapters

Shortened and souped up
The sheet metal worker is ready
Body construction with Henri
Aluminum and GRP
Three limousines and a misunderstanding
The decorated racing car
The end

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

After the war, France's Grandes Routières went downhill. The fast, expensive and often right-hand drive "grand touring cars", which were among the best automobiles you could buy in the world before the German invasion, were suddenly no longer wanted. Saving was the order of the day in the post-war period. Small and economical cars were in demand. But Bugatti, Talbot, Delage, Delahaye and all the others clung to their heavy, conservative luxury bodies and thus missed the boat on modernity. The fact that the bodies also continued to follow the pre-war streamlined shape made the large cars appear even less contemporary.

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