AN ULTRA-RARE vintage car once owned by a fashion icon will go under the hammer today.
The vintage car was owned by world-famous fashion icon Marcel Boussac, who is most known for financing the luxury fashion house Christian Dior.
The ultra-rare car was first registered to Christian Dior boss Marcel BoussacJam Press/Willem Verstraten/Cour
The blue Hispano-Suiza J12 Coupé Chauffeur was made in 1934.
The 9.5-litre V12 engine car was first registered to Marcel Boussac the following July, who went on to finance Paris fashion house Christian Dior.
Boussac – who owned the car for 20 years – was driven around in it with his Belgian singer wife Fanny Heldy.
The car – one of only 120 ever made – was convertible at the front but was covered at the back. It was designed for the rich and famous to be chauffeur-driven.
The seats in the rear are covered in blue velvet for ultimate comfort.
It is capable of doing 93mph and can do 0-60mph in just 11 seconds.
It is being sold by RM Sotheby’s on 31 January in the French capital as part of its ‘The Timeless’ Collection.
A spokesperson for the auctioneers said: “The finest model produced by one of France’s greatest automobile manufacturers.
“The Hispano-Suiza J12 is unrivalled for its smoothness, outstanding power, and excellent road manners, as one of the most modern 12-cylinder automobiles produced before World War II.
“Very seldom do examples of this treasured model become available for sale.”
The Sotheby’s spokesperson added: “This particular J12, with its handsome coupé chauffeur body by Kellner, was originally registered in July 1935 to Marcel Boussac, a French textile magnate who owned the renowned fashion house, Christian Dior.
“Following his 1938 wedding to Belgian singer Fanny Heldy, it was used mainly by the new Mrs Boussac for travelling in town and continental touring.”
He continued: “In April 1955 the car was acquired by a firm in Paris, and later that decade was exported to the United Kingdom.
“It reappeared in the 1970s owned by the prolific racing driver, enthusiast, and connoisseur, Michel Poberejsky, aka ‘Mike Sparken’.
“And was overhauled in his ownership by noted mechanic Louis Rossigneux at Gaston Garino’s garage, Sport Auto.
“In 1975 it was sold by Poberejsky to Count Frederic Chandon de Brialles who, three years later, sold it at auction to American collector, Dr Donald Vesley of Florida.
“The car was acquired from Mrs Vesley by the present collection in 2003.
“This J12 will be warmly welcomed at any number of international concours events upon completion of its restoration, as a sterling example of one of the all-time great pre-war cars.”
This comes after a “one of a kind” Porsche 928 GT is set to be auctioned in January 2024.
The uniquely built Porsche is considered to be one of the greatest car designs of the 1980s, and the guide price has been set at £242,000.
The car is set to go under the hammer in Paris today (31/01)Jam Press/Willem Verstraten/Cour
In 1955 a Parisian firm acquired the rare car and it was exported to the UK that decadeJam Press/Willem Verstraten/Cour
It reappeared in the 1970s when race car driver Michel Poberejsky bought itJam Press/Willem Verstraten/Cour
The car then went through multiple owners before its most recent in 2003Jam Press/Willem Verstraten/Cour
Punters will have to fork out upwards of £300,000 if they wish to claim it for themselvesJam Press/Willem Verstraten/Cour
Marcel Boussac started the world-famous Dior fashion brand in 1946