1952 Hotchkiss Anjou 1350
An original RHD Saloon

Registration No: KXS 958
Chassis No: 2237
MOT: Exempt

• Original right-hand drive
• Manual transmission
• One of only 7 Hotchkiss Anjou within the British Hotchkiss Society
• Older restoration in the 1990s
• Recent expenditure

The Hotchkiss Anjou was a luxury car offered between 1950 and 1954 by the French automaker Hotchkiss. It was an updated version of the 486 and 686/866 models which had first appeared in the 1930s and inherited its engines from those cars, although their engines in turn dated back to OHC units introduced in the mid-1920s. Launched in the autumn of 1950, during the first year 1,787 were produced. In 1951 the company produced a further 2,666. The depressed state of the economy and the government’s punitive taxation policy, especially in respect of larger cars, saw to it that, at least in terms of units produced, 1951 was the car’s best year, however. 815 were produced in 1952 and only 197 in 1953. 1953 was the last year of production, but the company was still advertising new cars for sale at least until the end of 1954, which indicates that their financial problems may well have been exacerbated by the practice of systematically manufacturing more cars than they were selling earlier in the Anjou's life.

The Hotchkiss Anjou came with a large limousine-style body significantly modified when compared to its predecessors and characteristic of the times. A small number of two-door coupés were produced as well as a 2-door cabriolet, branded as the Hotchkiss Anthéor. The Anjou was offered with a regular four-speed manual transmission as well as with an optional electromagnetic “Cotal” gearbox, which is seen by some as a precursor to more modern automatic transmission systems, and which would also have stood out from the crowd at any time on account of its having featured four forward speeds and four reverse speeds.

The car offered for sale was originally delivered in France and was fitted, as was customary with all Hotchkiss, with a right-hand-drive steering configuration, a feature it retains to this day. It is believed the car remained in France throughout the early part of its existence until sold to a Belgian collector in late 2000. The current vendor acquired the car in 2019 and imported it into the UK from Belgium, before it underwent a full body restoration in the 1990’s, which has now acquired a nicely mellowed patination. The interior is finished in lovely shade of Beige / Light Tan hide. In the current vendor’s ownership the car has been sympathetically maintained and improved by classic car specialists. The engine runs very smoothly and the gearbox changes gears effortlessly.

The vehicle comes with paperwork documenting ownership by a Mr Begue in Tours, France throughout the 1990’s and by a Mr VandenPlas close to Brussels, Belgium between 2000 and 2019. A folder containing invoices for work carried out and a collection of original Hotchkiss Anjou brochures and magazine articles also accompanies the car.

For more information, please contact:
Julian Pinkster
julian.pinkster@handh.co.uk
07889 223 904