- One of only 128 units ever built, of which 27 are known to still exist
- Matching numbers
- Thoroughly and completely restored
- 4-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1,087 cm³, DOHC, and two valves
Vehicle history:
Salmson vehicles were designed as lightweight cars and featured an aluminum body mounted on an ash wood frame. Emile Petit designed the engine in 1921—an engine with two overhead camshafts and a displacement of 1,087 cm³. The engine was exceptionally easy to tune. For racing purposes, a supercharger was often installed, allowing these cars to give the Bugattis a run for their money. As the epitome of cutting-edge Grand Prix technology, the GS8 was fast, reliable, and arguably the most successful French compact car of its time. These cars won around 500 races in the late 1920s and early 1930s and were more than a match for competitors such as Bugatti and Amilcar. Salmson vehicles were manufactured in Billancourt, France, from 1920 to 1930. The GS8 model was produced from 1927 to 1930. A total of 128 units were produced, of which 27 are known to survive. The model features a stiffer Grand Prix chassis, and some believe that this model was developed specifically for the Grand Prix. The car is said to reach a top speed of 75 miles per hour, but drives comfortably at 50 miles per hour and is very responsive. A detailed history of this particular car is unknown. What is known is that this Salmson was purchased in France in 2009 by an Englishman; the previous owner had bought the car from a museum in 2001. The Englishman sold the fully restored vehicle to a collection in Germany. The engine, chassis, and body all bear the same number—21106—which suggests that this is the second-to-last example produced in 1929.
