A slightly different duck in a rose dress
02/23/2022
An interesting coupé was also shown at the 1957 Paris Motor Show. It came from the winegrower and car engineer de Pontac, who had already attracted attention a few years earlier as the creator of a composite suspension for all four wheels. For his new prototype, which used many parts from the Citroën 2 CV, the inventor had reworked his suspension.
In its report on the motor show , Automobil Revue wrote :
" Whereas the Pontac suspension had previously consisted of a combination of coil springs, cables and angle levers, the spring element is now a single tire from a scooter, which is subjected to pressure by the suspension components. The level of the vehicle can be changed by regulating the pressure of this spring tire.
The Coupe shown by de Pontac, however, presents another novelty in terms of its appearance, as it is probably the first time that an automobile has been shown in a flowered version similar to a woman's dress. The resemblance goes further, as a mannequin is standing next to the car, actually wearing a dress in the same red colors and the same design. The top fiberglass layer of the plastic material used for the body was replaced by patterned cotton."
Whether the rose-patterned surface made more of an impression on visitors at the time than the interesting suspension design is not known.
