1923 Amilcar CGS two-seater
Specifications
Engine 1,074cc Side-Valve Inline-Four Cylinder
Horsepower: 35 at 3,800 rpm
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Amilcar was founded in July 1921 by Joseph Lamy and Emile Akar, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris; by 1924, the company had outgrown their space and relocated to Saint-Denis on the outskirts of the city. Amilcar benefitted from a government initiative which provided a reduced tax on vehicles that weighed less than 350 kg, provided seating for no more than two people, and were powered by an 1100cc engine or smaller. A vehicle that met these requirements was designated a cyclecar, if a vehicle exceeded these limits it was called a voiturette.
Amilcar’s first model, the CC, made its debut at the Paris Auto Show in 1921 and was received with great delight. Production began in 1921 featuring Amilcar’s 904cc side-valve inline-four-cylinder. The CC provided drivers with excellent handling characteristics and adequate power for its size and drew a large following which helped Amilcar build its momentum in development of the marque’s most successful model: the CGS.
The Amilcar CGS was the car that solidified the brand’s global reputation. The CGS was so popular that it was built under license in Italy, Germany and Australia, and was also sold in the USA by Maybach Motors in New York City. Production of the CGS began in 1924 and improved continuously until production ceased in 1929. The car was praised for its proven performance capabilities as well as its reliability, which spurred owners to enter local competitions, proving successful in many events.
The Amilcar on display sports a unique torpedo body with two front seats plus an additional passenger seat in the tail of the car. This CGS was once part of Harry Resnick’s collection, one of the first major collections in the United States, and was photographed for a series of postcards made for sale at the Long Island Auto Museum. The car was eventually restored in the mid-2000’s and was then shown shortly after its completion at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
