1923 Donnet Zedel history investigation

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Letter to the editor

I have just purchased this 1923 Donnet Zedel. The car has very little available documented history. It originates in Belgium where the previous owner bought it as it is and brought it to Romania.

Unfortunately the original engine did not survive and it is currently powered by a 1967 Ford Taunus 1.5l V4 engine.

The attached photos and documents show a certain Mr. Delvaux from Wierde (Namur) Belgium that has both imported it and made extensive restoration work on the car.

Allegedly, this car back in 1923 was only built in 2 pcs as a racer commissioned by Donnet Zedel. As far as he can tell me, many of the car's components incl seats, etc, but excluding from what I can see - lighting, instruments, and of course engine, are correct and original. Truth be told, we do not know apart from the obvious, what is original on the car or not - if any.

Our most valuable lead is the car chassis no. 6886. The rest, is very hard to tell. No owners clubs, no nothing.

I've turned the internet around but cannot find anything similar to this or some other valuable leads or anything that would show something about the history of the car.

All the papers and everything attests the car as a 1923 Donnet Zedel. Apparently, the gentleman from Belgium (probably Delvaux) who sold the car to the previous owner in Romania has passed away but he was known in the classic car community as someone very skilled on carburettors.

I would appreciate any information we may find, hopefully the PreWarCar readers and followers would just know something.

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