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Winter mystery: confusion over a Monte Carlo competitor
As the year draws to a close and winter has settled in, many of us look back at the stories, discoveries and curiosities that coloured the past twelve months. And what better way to end the year than with a little seasonal mystery? This car seems well prepared and ready for take-off in the Monte Carlo Rally in Warsaw, Poland.
It’s just when trying to find out a bit more about the vehicle and its crew that we got confused. It is very likely to be the Peugeot 301 of G. de Lavalette and H. Naas, although other sources list that entry under start number 5. And what’s more: other pictures show the crew with their car looking very different, with wire wheels, cycle wings, a different lighting arrangement, and spare wheel placement. And the registration is different too: 30-RG8 rather than 2546-RG1. So what’s going on there? A last-minute change, perhaps?
To make things more confusing: type in that last registration number and the 301 of the ladies’ team of Mademoiselle Hustinx and Simone des Forets appears! We also found that there was yet another 301 in that same rally wearing the almost similar number 2545-RG1, which was equipped by Messieurs De Constanze and Pillard. A puzzle? Surely not to some of you.
Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: State Archives Poland / Archiwa Państwowe
Published:
Wednesday December 31st, 2025
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Comments
Lionel Vilette
04 January, 18:33
Here are 2 pictures of the 1933 Monte Carlo Peugeot 201 BV (and not 301)... plus one of the few surviving 201 BV owned by a friend
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Herman van oldeneel
02 January, 11:16
three Peugeots 301 in one picture for the 1933 Monte Carlo Rallye.
2544-RG-1 entry number 10, Bignan/Lanciano, DNF
2545-RG-1, nr. 11, de Cortanze, 17th
2546-RG-1, nr 2, de Lavelette, 10th
The answer to the quesioned picture is the last one in the row, starting from Tallinn.
Read more
2544-RG-1 entry number 10, Bignan/Lanciano, DNF
2545-RG-1, nr. 11, de Cortanze, 17th
2546-RG-1, nr 2, de Lavelette, 10th
The answer to the quesioned picture is the last one in the row, starting from Tallinn.
Laurent ZOLLER
01 January, 18:58
Hello
Thank you, Herman van Oldeneel, for your research.
Jeroen Booij is right. There are many mysteries.
I am attaching a historical document concerning this 1933 rally.
It is a letter signed by all the French participants who left Tallinn and addressed to the Polish Automobile Club in gratitude for their warm welcome.
Laurent ZOLLER
—-
Hello
Merci Herman van Oldeneel pour vos recherches.
Jeroen Booij à raison . Il y a beaucoup de mystères.
Je joins un document historique concernant ce rallye de 1933.
Il s'agit de la lettre signée par tous les participants français partis de Tallin et qui fut adressée à l'automobile-club de Pologne en remerciement du bon accueil.
Laurent ZOLLER
Read more
Thank you, Herman van Oldeneel, for your research.
Jeroen Booij is right. There are many mysteries.
I am attaching a historical document concerning this 1933 rally.
It is a letter signed by all the French participants who left Tallinn and addressed to the Polish Automobile Club in gratitude for their warm welcome.
Laurent ZOLLER
—-
Hello
Merci Herman van Oldeneel pour vos recherches.
Jeroen Booij à raison . Il y a beaucoup de mystères.
Je joins un document historique concernant ce rallye de 1933.
Il s'agit de la lettre signée par tous les participants français partis de Tallin et qui fut adressée à l'automobile-club de Pologne en remerciement du bon accueil.
Laurent ZOLLER
Herman van oldeneel
01 January, 09:37
a picture of De Lavelette and his Peugeot with license 246-RG-1: "De Auto", February 16th 1933, page 285.
Read more
Herman van oldeneel
01 January, 09:24
small correction: Peugeot 201.
Those strange lights are foglights "antibrouillard" by Ets. Guicherd from France.
Read more
Those strange lights are foglights "antibrouillard" by Ets. Guicherd from France.
Laurent ZOLLER
31 December 2025, 15:30
Hello.
The Monte Carlo Rally is a very interesting subject, but also a very broad one.
First, we need to determine the year this photo was taken, as it is not indicated.
A simple way to do this is to look at the wheel rims.
In 1933, the rims were made of solid sheet metal. In 1934, the rims were spoked.
So... 1933.
That year, the Peugeot 2545 RG1 started from Tallinn and the Peugeot 2546 started from Umea in Sweden.
There was also a 2544 that dropped out.
The big question remains: who was driving what?
An answer is provided by an official Peugeot document from March 1933: Peugeot magazine, 1 March 1933, page 19.
De Cortanze drove the 2546 RG1 and won the 'comfort prize' at the 1933 Monte Carlo Rally.
Laurent ZOLLER
—-
Le rallye de Monte-Carlo est un sujet très intéressant mais très vaste aussi.
Il faut d'abord déterminer l'année de cette photo car elle n'est pas indiquée.
Un moyen simple est de regarder les jantes.
En 1933 les jantes sont en tôle pleine. En 1934 les jantes sont à rayons.
Donc.....1933.
Cette année-là la Peugeot 2545 RG1 est partie de Tallin et la Peugeot 2546 est partie de Umea en Suède.
Il y avait également une 2544 qui a abandonné..
La grande question reste: qui conduisait quoi ?
Une réponse nous est donnée par un document officiel Peugeot de mars 1933.: Peugeot revue du 1er mars 1933 en page 19.
De Cortanze conduisait la 2546 RG1 , est a remporté le "prix de confort" au rallye de Monte-Carlo 1933.
Laurent ZOLLER
Read more
The Monte Carlo Rally is a very interesting subject, but also a very broad one.
First, we need to determine the year this photo was taken, as it is not indicated.
A simple way to do this is to look at the wheel rims.
In 1933, the rims were made of solid sheet metal. In 1934, the rims were spoked.
So... 1933.
That year, the Peugeot 2545 RG1 started from Tallinn and the Peugeot 2546 started from Umea in Sweden.
There was also a 2544 that dropped out.
The big question remains: who was driving what?
An answer is provided by an official Peugeot document from March 1933: Peugeot magazine, 1 March 1933, page 19.
De Cortanze drove the 2546 RG1 and won the 'comfort prize' at the 1933 Monte Carlo Rally.
Laurent ZOLLER
—-
Le rallye de Monte-Carlo est un sujet très intéressant mais très vaste aussi.
Il faut d'abord déterminer l'année de cette photo car elle n'est pas indiquée.
Un moyen simple est de regarder les jantes.
En 1933 les jantes sont en tôle pleine. En 1934 les jantes sont à rayons.
Donc.....1933.
Cette année-là la Peugeot 2545 RG1 est partie de Tallin et la Peugeot 2546 est partie de Umea en Suède.
Il y avait également une 2544 qui a abandonné..
La grande question reste: qui conduisait quoi ?
Une réponse nous est donnée par un document officiel Peugeot de mars 1933.: Peugeot revue du 1er mars 1933 en page 19.
De Cortanze conduisait la 2546 RG1 , est a remporté le "prix de confort" au rallye de Monte-Carlo 1933.
Laurent ZOLLER
Tyrone Hopes
31 December 2025, 11:20
And what's the story behind those strange lamp shades? Blackout conditions would require something similar but this isn't war time surely?
Read more