Topic: Solved: Wendax 4251 - Hotchkiss Cabriolet by Letourneur & Marchand

[Lavrakas]

Letourneur & Marchand. The wheels look like they belong on a 1929-31 Bugatti grand tourer.

[Wendax]

Yes on both. This picture was part of a large set of Letourneur & Marchand photos for sale on ebay. It had a handwritten note "Hotchkiss" on its back, but there were some other wrong attributions in that set as well. So I am not sure that it really shows a Hotchkiss. The picture is not in Dominique Pagneux's L&M book. The body style Yo-Yo had was in fashion around 1933/1934. The book mentions a Bugatti 49 rebodied by L&M in 1935, but with a 2/3-seats roadster body, and a 1934 Hotchkiss Type 620 Normale bodied as a 4-seater cabriolet. The wheels certainly look like Bugatti wheels, but there is no Bugatti emblem at the wheel hubs. So it leaves a shadow of doubt.

[Lavrakas]

Thanks for the point. The radiator looks too far forward for a Bugatti.
I don't think much of the driver's parking skills.

[oko94]

I've never seen a Bugatti with such turbine-like wheels. Bugatti alloy wheels from that era always had straight, radial spokes.

On the other hand, a 1935 Renault Nerva Grand Sport by Letourneur & Marchand has the same turbine-like design (see https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/bentleyboy-64-letourneur-marchand-1935-renault-nerva-grand-sport/). The puzzle car doesn't look a like a Renault, so I assume these wheels were used by Letourneur & Marchand on various cars from different chassis manufacturers.

[gte4289]

I've never seen a Bugatti with such turbine-like wheels.

Among other differences. I agree that these are not Bugatti wheels.

[Wendax]

Thanks for the additional information. I'll omit the Bugatti part of the header.

[gte4289]

From 1935, a more elegant design showing some similar elements: