1953
Code 1109
Body style: two-seat sportscar
The Cité de l’Automobile boasts an impressive collection of 14 Gordinis, all of which won racing honours, driven by many of the big names in post-war motor racing. Amédée Gordini only built around 50 racing cars, including this one, nicknamed the “cigar” because of its oblong shape, which has a particular place in the Gordini history.
Amédée Gordini continually struggled to bring new money in to fund the racing team. He wore himself out in the infernal cycle that required time and money to develop new competitive models, whilst demanding immediate results at the same time. The engines were excellent and well-designed, the technicians did a very good job and a number of feats were achieved. This car only raced twelve times, but with good results. Trintignant and Schell drove it to sixth place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953, coming top in its category. It also beat the record set the previous year by the Mercedes 300 SL, clocking 234 kph (145 mph) on the Hunaudières straight. And it took third place in the performance category of the Tour of France in the same year.
However, Gordini decided to throw in the towel three years later and joined Renault, to write another great chapter in motorsport history.
The celebrity connection is French writer Françoise Sagan, who drove this car for several months, whilst waiting for a model she had ordered.
