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Gordini evidence


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#1 Barry Boor

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 11:32

There are a couple of models of Gordini 15s knocking around, that are painted yellow.

One has #8 on it and is described as French Grand Prix. There was indeed a #8 Gordini at the 1953 race but it was driven by Roberto Mieres so I'm wondering why that might have been painted yellow.

Johnny Claes drove a Gordini once to twice and being Belgian, maybe his car was yellow, maybe not.

I'm wondering if there is any definitive evidence of any yellow Gordini in 1952 and 1953?

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#2 68targa

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 12:08

Peter Higham (Formula 1 Car by Car) refers to the Ecurie Belge Gordini "... having lent the yellow car to Robert O'Brien for the Belgian GP".  Claes also drove this car in the French GP and also at Silverstone for the 1952 GP.   No colour photos so not really definitive proof, although I'm sure they must exist somewhere.



#3 Roger Clark

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 12:39

Johnny Claes drove the car in many races in 1952, including the International Trophy, where Autosport said it was yellow.



#4 Doug Nye

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 13:29

Here's the liddle devil:

 

Screenshot-2021-04-14-at-14-24-24.png

 

If you compare the grey of the track and the green of the grass you can clearly see that the Gordini is yellow and not blue...(can't you?).   :cool:

 

Revs Digital Library photograph by Rodolfo Mailander showing Johnny Claes in the Gordini during the 1952 Modena GP.

 

DCN



#5 uechtel

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 13:41

From my brand-new completely reworked "Black Book" (strongly recommendable!), for the period up to 1953, in the significant events, the only occasion that would fit would be Claes at Pau in 1952. All other #8 entries were either factory cars (blue) or T11 models (Seiler, Thepenier, both very unlikely in yellow).


Edited by uechtel, 14 April 2021 - 13:42.


#6 Roger Clark

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 14:13

And Pau was, of course a Grand Prix de France.



#7 john winfield

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 16:06

Autodiva and Gérard have a yellow T16, if that helps. It's Georges Berger's car at Reims in 1954, the chassis having been built in 1952.

 

https://www.autodiva...0b5822735cb35b2

 

 

 

..and it's #30, so presumably not the basis for the Edicola model.


Edited by john winfield, 14 April 2021 - 16:09.


#8 john winfield

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 16:22

Barry, looking at some of the yellow #8 models for sale on French eBay, I see some are listed as the André Pilette T16 from the 1954 Pau Grand Prix. He was #8 at that race and, presumably, was racing in ENB colours.



#9 Eric Dunsdon

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Posted 14 April 2021 - 16:27

I saw Johnny Claes in the 1952  Trophy Race and can confirm that the car was yellow.



#10 Barry Boor

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Posted 15 April 2021 - 09:24

Thank you to everyone who has chipped in on this one.

There WAS a yellow Gordini and that's all I wanted to know.

Thanks all.

#11 AntoineP

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Posted 26 April 2021 - 10:57

Autodiva and Gérard have a yellow T16, if that helps. It's Georges Berger's car at Reims in 1954, the chassis having been built in 1952.

https://www.autodiva...0b5822735cb35b2



..and it's #30, so presumably not the basis for the Edicola model.

Jojo and André bougth a Gordini with the help of a lady whose name escapes me.
André sold his newly built house fot it, plus my grand-mother Triumph (she was quite crossed having her car sold.)

#12 Michael Ferner

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 07:43

Jojo and André bougth a Gordini with the help of a lady whose name escapes me.

 

I recall the name de Walckiers... !?!



#13 Tim Murray

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 08:05

She gets several mentions in this earlier thread:

Gordini

#14 AntoineP

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 12:04

I recall the name de Walckiers... !?!

 

Her name is, apparently, Marie-Louise de Walckiers de Tronchiennes.

I did ask last year my dad who she really was as I wondered what got her to finance a racing car but i didn't get a helpfull answer except she had money.



#15 Jahn1234567890

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 16:49

The Gordini owned by de Walckiers was a T15, chassis 0015GC.

 

This car was  driven by Anton Branca in 1950 and 1951. Mainly in F2 and Swiss Hillclimbs. Driven by Johnny Claes, Bob O’Brien and Paul Frère in F2 in 1952. Georges Berger drove this car at the 1953 Belgian Grand Prix. The car Berger drove at Reims in 1954 was a T16, chassis 0031-GC.

 

Madame de Walckiers also owned a Maserati 4CLT, chassis 1606. This car was driven by Steve Watson at Albi in 1952 and by André Pilette at Sables d'Olonne in 1953.



#16 Henk Vasmel

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 17:29

Nice time to take a look in my Gordini book, by Christian Huet.

 

To start with, Yes there is definitely a yellow Gordini. Color picture is available of T16-31 with Georges Berger at the 1954 Reims GP. Start number (30). At Pau and Bordeaux that year, it ran with number (8) and at Rouen it was a spare car, also with (8) Description in the book says that 31 was definitely painted yellow at Bordeaux. Drivers Pilette and Berger. All works entries.

 

By the way, 31 is also shown in a color picture in 1953 at Bern with number (8). There it is still blue.

 

The other candidate would be T15-15GC. Seen only once with number (8) at it’s debut with Johnny Claes (its regular driver that year) in Pau 1952. Variously entered by works, Johnny Claes, Ecurie Belge and Me. De Walckiers in 1952, and once borrowed to Robert O’ Brien. In 1953 to Georges Berger.

 

This 15GC accidentally is also the car that went to Argentina, to be fitted with a Porsche engine.

 

This 15GC used to be a Simca-Gordini until the end of 1951. Mostly driven by the Swiss Antonio Branca, entered by himself or Me. De Walckiers. No number (8) during this time and no obvious reason why it should be yellow.

 

Me. De Walckiers is listed as the first owner from new for 15GC, and indeed after one works outing, she was the next to enter it in May ‘50

 

So, on to the other Gordini book, by Robert Jarraud.

 

He describes 31 as being painted yellow for the 1954 season, when used by Pilette and Berger.

 

For 15GC, he states that Branca painted it red and white (the Swiss colours, as I expected).

 

To make things clear, both are monopostos, and T15-15GC is a 4-cylinder car, while T16-31 is a 6-cylinder one.

 

I have concentrated my search on these two cars. There are no other Belgian entrants or Belgian drivers in my database that could lead to another car being yellow, so we’ll leave it at that. No time available to read more than 800 pages in French to look for the word “jaune” in a place we don’t expect it yet.


Edited by Henk Vasmel, 27 April 2021 - 19:50.