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A thousand silver vases and a parrot: Louis Chiron

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Created on April 1, 1973

Text:

Halwart Schrader

Photos:

Mercedes-Benz AG

Bonhams

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Daimler AG

Archiv

Mercedes-Benz AG

Bonhams

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Daimler AG

Archiv

Louis Chiron in front of his trophy collection around 50 years ago

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Louis Chiron greets the then Bugatti Club President Kurt Kiefer at the 1965 IAA

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Louis Chiron as "director" of the prize-giving ceremony at the 32nd Monte Carlo Rally in 1963 - Ewy Rosqvist and Ursula Wirth win the Ladies' Cup

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb (1963) - Ewy Rosqvist and Ursula Wirth receive the Ladies' Cup from Princess Grace Kelly on the occasion of the 32nd Monte Carlo Rally

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Award ceremony for the Ladies' Cup at the 32nd Monte Carlo Rally in 1963 - the princely couple congratulate, Louis Chiron observes

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Race briefing with the drivers of all teams at the 1935 Monaco GP, including Louis Chiron, Rudi Caracciola, von Brauchitsch, Fagioli and others

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Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1936) - GP Monaco 1936, Caracciola on the right, Louis Chiron on the left

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Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1936) - Louis Chiron at the 1936 Monaco GP

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Alfa Romeo P3 (1935) - René Dreifus in an Alfa ahead of von Brauchitsch in a Mercedes-Benz W 25 and Louis Chiron in an Alfa Romeo

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Louis Chiron, winner of the French GP in 1937

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1949 French Grand Prix: Louis Chiron in the Talbot-Lago T26 at the Thillois hairpin bend

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Mercedes-Benz W 196 R (1955) - Fangio is pursued by Louis Chiron in the 1955 Lancia D50 at the Monaco GP

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Mercedes-Benz W 25 (1936) - Louis Chiron at the 1936 Tunis GP

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1954 Monte Carlo Rally - Chiron/Basadonna in a Lancia Aurelia GT at the Col des Leques (first special stage)

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Delahaye 175 S Coach (1950) - Carrera Panamericana 1951: one of the few photos of starting number 4 before disqualification, driven by Louis Chiron and André Mariotti

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The Monegasque Louis Chiron did not get far with his heavy Delahaye 4.5 liter

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Healey Silverstone (1950) - Advertisement from 1950 - Louis Chiron

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Summary

Louis Chiron was a versatile racing driver who was successful on all circuits. But even after his active racing career, he had a lot to do and monarchs and celebrities came and went with him ...

This article contains the following chapters

Known far and wide
Louis Chiron in private
Almost like a museum

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

There wasn't a monarch he hadn't shaken hands with, not a racetrack in the world that wasn't a part of his life story, not a flambéed steak in the whole of Europe that he wouldn't surpass in its preparation: amateur chef and ex-racing driver Louis Chiron was more than a prominent resident of the Riviera metropolis of Monte Carlo. "Of course, Mr. Chiron, you can park your car here," the revolving door manager of the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo hastened to assure us when Louis Chiron parked his Mini right where it was blocking the hotel driveway - you could afford to expect the other gentlemen to take a few steps on foot if your name was Chiron. And had once been the manager of one of the most famous hotels in Europe.

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