1953 Gordini Type 24S
To compete with the Maserati 300S, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, and Aston Martin DB3S and Austin Healey 100, Amédée Gordini prepared the Type 24 S.
It was powered by a 8-cylinder engine that was similar in design to their 4-cynlinder inline-4. The design had somewhat of a long stroke which limited the redline to 6500 rpm. The unit initially produced 220 bhp.
By 1964 the hydraulic drums were replaced by Messier discs and engine power was increased yearly.
Maurice Trintignant and Harry Schell raced the sole Type 24 S at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans and placed 6th overall and first in the 3.0 class ahead of the Austin-Healey 100 and Aston Martin DB3S in the same class. That same year the car appeared and won the won the Tour de France Automobile in September 1953 with driver Jean Behra.
Equipe Gordini returned to Le Mans in 1954 and while their 24 S retired, the T 15 went on to win the 3.0-liter class. The 24 S also made appearances at the 12 Hours of Reims, Tour de France Automobile and Coupe du Salon in Montlhery which it won outright.
The cars were continually used up to 1958 and upgraded along the way. They appeared at the 1000 KM of Buenos Aires, Mille Miglia and Le Mans in the later years.
In Detail
| type | Racing Car |
| built at | France |
| engine | Inline-8 |
| position | Front, Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| fuel feed | Weber 38DC03 Carburettors |
| displacement | 2982 cc / 181.97 in³ |
| power | 197.6 kw / 265 bhp @ 6500 rpm |
| specific output | 88.87 bhp per litre |
| body / frame | Aluminum Body over Steel Frame |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Messier Dampers |
| r suspension | Live Axle w/Trailing Arms, Watts Link, Messier Dampers |
| wheelbase | 2300 mm / 90.6 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
Auction Sales History
1953 Gordini Type 24 S – did not sell for €2,500,000 The ultimate Gordini sports car; a true one-off three-litre sports car. One of the first racing cars equipped with four-wheel disc brakes. Has competed in the most important races of its era: Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, the Carrera Panamericana, and the 1953 Tour de France. Extensively raced by Jean Behra. Only five owners from new; always owned in France. A perhaps unrepeatable opportunity.
Auction Source: 2014 Paris by RM Auctions
