Model history:

The French coachbuilder Ateliers Henri Chapron already had an excellent reputation as a body supplier for Talbot and Delage before the Second World War. However, it gained great fame after the launch of the Citroën DS. Henri Chapron immediately recognized the potential for special bodies, as all body parts of the DS had no load-bearing function. In addition to DS convertibles commissioned by Citroën, Chapron also produced other special bodies for the DS. Among the most extravagant variants are the Le Dandy Coupés. The 2+2-seater coupés do not require rear side windows and instead feature a strikingly wide B-pillar. Between 1960 and 1968, a total of 49 copies were produced.

General information about the vehicle:

In this auction you can buy one of only two Le Dandy specimens from 1965 produced on customer request. In favor of headroom in the rear, the roofline is raised. This was achieved by means of a less steep rear window and an ordinary DS windscreen. The handwritten correspondence of this commissioned work between the client and the Ateliers Henri Chapron is available. In addition, the authenticity of the vehicle with the Chapron factory number 7544 was certified by Henri Chapron's daughter in 2019. The body was restored between 2001 and 2002 by a Dutch specialist (Noble House B.V.). An existing valuation report attests to the rare coupé the condition grade 2 and a replacement value of € 287,000.

Exterior colour/varnish/body:

The restored coupé presents itself in a beautiful apple green, from which the roof painted in white stands out. This is not the original color, but a self-designed, contemporary paint color. There are no serious scratches or missing parts on the body, only on the chrome parts patina is recognizable. A larger dent and some rust can be seen in the lower part of the front apron.

Exterior rims/brakes/chassis:

Vredestein vintage tyres with contemporary profile from the 2014 production year are mounted on the steel rims with chrome hubcaps. The hydropneumatic chassis has already been converted to the modern and more reliable LHM hydraulic fluid. The feather balls have also already been renewed.

Interior:

When opening the doors, the first glance falls on the entrances clad with noble chrome strips, which are provided with a Henri Chapron plaque. The comfortable leather seats, as well as the carpet and the typical Citroën single-spoke steering wheel, are kept in black. In terms of colour, the beige headliner stands out with beautiful quilted seams. The interior is in an extraordinarily good state of preservation, only the numerous chrome elements have a slight patina. In terms of equipment, the original Radiomatic radio with automatic Hirschmann antenna can be found. The grey-clad trunk shows slight signs of use, and it can also be seen that the imitation leather cover is partially beginning to come loose.

Mileage

The odometer of the classic band speedometer shows a mileage of only 15,069 kilometers. The mileage can be traced through various documents.

Engine

Installed here is a 2.1 liter engine with an output of 101 hp, which are shifted via a manual 5-speed transmission. The underbody is sealed with black underbody protection and apparently in good condition. The vehicle is accompanied by the original order card from 1965, a certificate of authenticity issued by Henri Chapron's daughter and a valuation report, which shows the condition grade 2, are also available.