1931 DeSoto GP Sports Two-Seater ●

Offered from a private European Collection, this powerful six-cylinder, 3.4-litre Sports Two-Seater is offered with FIA papers and would make an ideal pre-war rally car.This two-seater special started life as a De Soto CK 'Finer-Six' Sedan. A relatively lightweight saloon (by American standards) it featured a straight-six, L-Head, side-valve engine displacing 205 cubic inches (3.4-litres) and producing, in standard form, 72 brake horsepower and featured a drop-forged solid front axle with shock absorbers, semi-floating rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four wheel drum brakes.Little is known of this cars early history and it was purchased in the early 2000s as a basket case. The chassis was shortened, all mechanical items rebuilt by the enthusiastic vendor, which included increasing the compression ratio during the rebuild of the engine which now produces some 95bhp. The two-seater body is in aluminium and very well made with cycle wings, aero screens and a boat tail very much in the style of contemporary Grand Prix cars like the Alfa Romeo 8C Monza and the Maserati Tipo 26M. It's currently finished in a Dark Chocolate Brown with black-painted wire wheels and appears to offer plenty of space for a taller driver with the nicely patinated brown leather seats looking really comfortable. It's FIA documented and has been enjoyed on international rallies and in European hill climbs in the past and is currently suitable for VSCC hill climbing, circuit racing and long distance rallies with Hero ERA, Rally the Globe etc. subject to the appropriate regulations.Although DeSoto never became involved in European circuit racing, if they had, the car they entered would probably have looked something like the handsome two-seater we have here. It was built as one man's dream and is a credit it to him. If you narrow your eyes on a hot afternoon, it's easy to see this lovely DeSoto thundering off the Monza banking in July 1931 closely pursued by Achille Varzi in his Bugatti T51 and Guiseppe Campari and Tazio Nuvolari in their bright red Alfa 8Cs. Magic.The car is left-hand drive and currently registered in Belgium so has free movement within the European Union but 5% import duty will be payable if it's going to reside in the UK. SpecificationMake: DESOTOModel: GP SPORTS TWO-SEATERYear: 1931Chassis Number: RPA033372Registration Number: BELGIAN REGISTEREDTransmission: ManualDrive Side: Left-hand DriveMake: LHDInterior Colour: Tan leatherClick here for more details and images