Lot 433: 1931 Rosengart Sports Torpedo

Lucien Rosengart was an engineer and member of Citroën’s board of directors until he decided to go it alone in 1928. Like BMW in Germany, Rosengart secured the manufacturing licence for Austin (in France) and set about making cars, based on Austin mechanical designs, in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, Paris, the first of which were Seven-based, but with the engines cast in France by Rosengart. The gearbox and front axle were to Austin pattern also, but Rosengart designed his own body, 7’ 3”-wheelbase chassis and half-elliptic, six-stud rear axle. This two-seater Sports Torpedo model was designed to meet Europe’s increasing interest in the 750cc class in the early 1930s and is thought to be one of no more than ten remaining Sports Torpedoes in existence. This car was built by Rosengart in 1931 using their own component parts and with a scuttle-mounted fuel tank. Each car was built individually and there was no fixed specification. In 1998 the car was imported into the UK in a dismantled condition and Keith Roach the renowned coachbuilder (re-creator of Audi’s Auto-Union Streamliner car) was commissioned to recreate this two-seater body from the designs and records provided by the Rosengart museum in Germany. Every component (including engine, gearbox and transmission) has been completely restored and in the early 2000s ‘DSL 485’ won a number of national concours awards. Finished in French Blue with dark blue wings and red leather upholstery, this original right-hand drive Rosengart is offered with MoT to August 2007 and Swansea V5 document. Also are included in the sale are a full Rosengart windscreen (for possible conversation back from aero screens); new black canvass hood which matches the car and full windscreen; and a quantity of assorted spares (carburettor, starter motor, lights and bulbs).