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Taking the Ballot Figoni to trials... (upd. Bruce Whitehouse)

During Rétromobile at Porte de Versailles in Paris, Artcurial has an auction on February 8. One of the highlights of that sale, in our opinion, is a 1927 Ballot 2 LTS. For a company that started out making boat engines (hence the marine inspired logo), Etablissements Ballot didn't do bad as a car manufacturer, their 2 LTS model was top-of-the-line. Not many of this model were made and even less came with right hand drive, perhaps only two or three. This one, a very nice 'décapotable' by Figoni, comes from the collection of André Surmain, who in 1961 started Lutèce, a legendary New York restaurant. Also an automobile enthusiast André found this Ballot 2 LTS for sale near Chicago in the early sixties. After selling the restaurant André moved to France and took the Ballot with him, but restoration wasn't started until the early eighties. The wooden parts of the body and the leather were replaced and the engine was also overhauled. After finishing the project, André Surmain took it to many rallies including the Mille Miglia. The car is pictured here probably in the fifties or sixties during a trials in the UK. Not too many people would dare do the same with their Figoni nowadays, or ? Was this before or after André 's ownership?
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Comments

#5 2013-01-30 17:27

I have owned my Ballot 2LTS for over 50 years (google Ballot 2LTS and click Wikipedia: it's the red one). It was a wreck when I aquired it, and it realy looked a hopeless project, but then I came in contact with Bruce Whitehouse, and he supplied all the missing parts plus much more. Without he's help I would never have made it. - A few years ago I visited Andre Surmain in his home in the south of France - He was the most charming person, and he served me a magnificent suffle, and of course showed me his Ballot.

#4 2013-01-30 16:20

I wouldn't be surprised if having EB on the logo appealed to them as well as the anchor, even though it's no Bugatti

#3 2013-01-30 14:02

Surely all Ballots were RHD, like most French quality cars of the time?

#2 2013-01-30 10:45

Bruce Whitehouse was the VSCC Ballot man

#1 2013-01-30 01:20

My memory has been know to play tricks in times gone by (last time was when I was s'posed to heat the water for breakfast coffee today) .... but the name
Bruce Waterhouse comes to mind, VSCC trials, late fifties?

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