The time-worn beauty of an all-original BNC

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Salmsons and Amilcars are très bonnes, but if we're discussing French sporting voiturettes then a personal favourite is the BNC. It's all in the rake of the radiator - it conveys such speed, even when perfectly motionless. The marque's early offerings were nothing out of the ordinary, starting in 1923 with a basic sports-car powered by a 900cc sidevalve Ruby proprietary engine, but in 1925 it suddenly unveiled what was reputedly the only supercharged production car on sale in France, using an 1100cc SCAP overhead-valve engine and attaining an extraordinary top speed of 103mph.

The familiar raked radiator débuted in 1927, and the Type 527 Monza model, such as we see here, appeared in 1928. There are a handful of surviving Monzas, many of which tend to get used for hill-climbs, sprints and tours, but there's nothing else quite like this one - unrestored, unaltered and now very carefully preserved.

Car number 27090, fitted with a Ruby DS 9111ES5 engine, was never just an ordinary BNC. It was destined for great things from the beginning, being selected for exhibition on the BNC stand at the 1928 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in 1928. Unfortunately, nothing is known of what became of it immediately after that, but by 1948 it came to be owned by a gentleman known to us as Monsieur D., a Normandy resident, who kept it until 1954 when the decision to sell it was made on the grounds of 'family planning'.

Out of sight for 65 years

Monsieur D. sold it to a Paris workshop, which promptly stuffed it away in a garage and left it there for 65 years. Luckily, the garage was reasonably dry and well-ventilated, so when the BNC was uncovered a few years ago, it was scruffy but otherwise in good shape, still retaining its original paint and upholstery.

It has now fallen safely into the hands of committed enthusiasts Thomas and Rainer Schmid. The brothers are the kind of enthusiast who very much believe in driving their cars as they ought to be driven, but in the case of the BNC they will make an exception as some of the original materials are now very fragile, although the entire structure of the car, including the frame, axles and panels, are in excellent condition and the engine is running ever so sweetly.

Rainer has been fortunate enough to have made contact with Monsieur D., now a sprightly 96, who supplied the historic photographs. He was pleased to reminisce about what he still referred to as "his BNC" and revealed that he had fitted the full-width windscreen and convertible top because he and Madame D. drove the car extensively, and found a little bit of protection from the elements would be an improvement. He recalled that "it was always a good and very reliable car" and still regards it as "unfortunate" that it had to be sold.

We just consider ourselves very fortunate that the BNC has survived, so original and so full of character, and we hope it gives everyone else as much pleasure to see.

Words: Zack Stiling; photographs: Thomas Schmid
 

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