Lot 228: Clenet Series I Roadster

Alain Clenet burst upon the American automobile scene in the early 70's. Educated in France at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Angers and the Ecole Nationale Supériure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Clenet brought French flair, cosmopolitan taste and Continental flamboyance to his venture, Clenet Coachworks. Clenet's approach was different although his objective, building a classically-styled automobile on a modern chassis with up-to-date comfort features and amenities, was shared by others at the time. Using Ford products as a base, Clenet used both new and re-purposed components to create flamboyant automobiles with long hoods, sweeping flared fenders and intimate passenger compartments. Design was Clenet's strength but it paled when compared with his talent for marketing and that was employed in the Clenets' personalization program. Each car was sumptuously equipped and trimmed in fine leather, lambswool carpet, richly grained wood and etched glass and crystal. Buyers could specify exactly what they wanted in their Clenet and, unless it was particularly offensive to Alain's taste, Clenet would build, finish and equip it accordingly. Location also served Clenet's positioning. Not for Alain the industrial developments of Detroit, New Jersey or even Los Angeles. Clenet Coachworks was in Santa Barbara, California, the haven of exclusivity and polite society two hours' drive north of LAX. Over a five year period some 250 Clenets were built and the Clenet concept and design survives today under different ownership, a credit to its endurng appeal. This 1979 Clenet was bought new by Body Contour, Inc., the company owned by Sid and Jenny Craig. Its acquisition coincided with the Craigs' marriage also in 1979 and the growing success of Body Contour, which would be sold in 1982. Finished in deep burgundy with black fenders and a black padded cloth roof, the interior is attractively upholstered in maroon leather with black piping and carpets. It is equipped with all the amenities of a late 70's luxury car including power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and a Pioneer cassette stereo. Power comes from a 425 cubic inch Ford V-8 with California smog equipment. Among the flamboyant design features which characterized Clenets it has chrome wire wheels. The odometer showed only about 8,500 miles at the time of cataloging and judging from the car's condition and its one-owner history that is probably the entire record of its use. It has never been restored and its condition is such that it has not needed anything more than routine mechanical care and maintenance. Clenet automobiles were replicas of nothing, nor even tributes. They were uniquely designed, styled and constructed to fit Alain Clenet's vision of a distinctive, cosmopolitan automobile for successful persons. In Sid Craig's collection the Clenet is unique among the postwar cars in having no celebrity connection; except, importantly, its connection with two particularly significant celebrities, Sid and Jenny Craig.