Lot details
Registration No: SV 7158
Chassis No: 897F4
Mot Expiry: None

By luring chief designer Henri Brasier away from Mors in 1901, the Georges Richard concern successfully transformed its image from 'voiturette' to 'proper car' manufacturer. Marketed under the name Georges Richard-Brasier, its 1902 range incorporated four 'state of the art' models rated at between 10hp and 40hp. Renowned for their quality, the larger horsepower cars also became famous for their speed when the company took back-to-back victories in the 1904 and 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup races. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Brasier powerplants (George and Maxime Richard having left in 1905 to found Unic) were often the choice of early power boat racers too. Mounted in the Despujols hull of the French-built 'Duc' hydroplane, a four-cylinder Brasier unit was used to capture the Water Speed Record at the sixth annual Monaco regatta in 1909. Its speed of 41.089mph over the flying kilometre course being sufficient to win it the 10,000 francs Prince of Monaco Cup (a feat it repeated two years later at 44.35mph). Able to weather the 1907 depression, the Ivry Port based firm (which had become officially incorporated as the Societe des Automobiles Brasier in February that year) continued to diversify its line-up. Adopting monobloc construction for some of its four-cylinder engines, it made just fewer than 1,000 cars during 1911 (posting a profit and paying its shareholders a ten percent dividend in the process).
Finished in green with button-backed black leather upholstery, this particular example is described by the vendor as being in "good condition" with regard to its 1500cc four-cylinder engine, three-speed manual gearbox, interior trim, chassis, bodywork and paintwork. Believed to have been on display for a time in a Dutch museum until its closure in 1983, it has been in the current ownership since July 1998. A handsome four-door open tourer, it is adorned with various brass fittings including scuttle-mounted sidelamps, fork-mounted acetylene headlamps and a 'Boa' type horn. Benefiting from generous running boards, scuttle vents, rear luggage rack and a half-tonneau, it has been dated to 1911 by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain (under Certificate No. 1674). An elegant yet practical car, this rare surviving Brasier offers an inexpensive entry to the world of Edwardian motoring.

PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE VENDOR THAT HE HAS MISLAID THE VCC DATING CERTIFICATE FOR THIS CAR