The wild Renaults of a winemaker

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When André Lurton passed away in May last year, a chapter in the Bordeaux winemaking dynasty of Chateau Bonnet ended. Lurton had been a WW2 veteran who fought in the resistance and took over the family vineyard and chateau in Grezillac in 1953. He successfully expanded the family-run cooperation (since 1560) and died peacefully in the same room he’d been born in 94 years before.

But apart from winemaking, Lurton had a great passion for historic vehicles, too. And the stables adjacent to the chateau housed some 80 classic cars, military and agricultural vehicles. And it’s no exaggeration to say that Lurton’s collection was a rather chauvinistic one. Of the pre-war cars alone 7 are Citroëns, 5 Renaults, 2 Hotchkisses, 2 Peugeots, and one of each of the following makes: Panhard & Levassor, Chenard & Walcker, Fisson, Rosengart, Talbot, Berliet and Georges Roy. All of the vehicles from the estate are now offered for sale at the chateau by auctioneer Artcurial.

Which are the ones that stand out from that great collection? Well, it’s hard to say as there seem to be many gems. Perhaps the Renaults surprised us most, though, with some of them coming from the works ‘Renault Patrimoine et Collection’ and with low estimates. There is this grand 14CV Landaulet of 1911 bodied by Louis Galle and with some cool features such as fold-down seats and brass everywhere. Oh – the gearbox is missing, so that may be a bit of a challenge. On the other hand, it may well keep the price low. Needing less work is this brush painted 1910 EK Torpédo two-seater. It was a family heirloom and is ready to use when you don’t mind that paint job. Even considered to sell cheaper is this 1920 Type IG Coupé Chauffeur, described as ‘of interest as a project or spares car’, which seems a rather disdainful description to us. Last but not least are two rebodied cars: a 1913 Type DM Cabriolet that was originally another Coupe Chauffeur and a perhaps curiously bodied 1915 Type EK Cabriolet two-seater which left the factory as a Torpedo. We are certain these cars will be able to bring lots of pleasure to their new owners.

Words by Jeroen Booij. Pictures courtesy of Artcurial.

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