One you can buy
Year 1964 Recorded mileage 9580km
Asking price £14,950 Vendor Michael Horley, East Sussex; tel: 07747 607543 For Very original; may be the find of the decade Against Needs some detail help (paint, trim, side-window rubbers)
It sounds incredible, but this R1094 (Gordini replacement, but with standard 28bhp engine and four-speed) Dauphine’s odometer appears to be telling the truth. Yes, the speedo drive is broken, but the floor mats and pedal rubbers are almost like new – as is the way it drives.
It was put away in a barn when the owner got a new job in Paris, and sold in 2015 by relatives. The vendor is only letting it go because knee surgery means it’s hard to get in and out.
It’s not perfect, with a couple of dings in the roof over an average older respray, and a few bubbles in the paint here and there, but it is very straight and solid, and apparently rot-free – the sill seams and floors are perfect. The bumper chrome is good, but both of the aluminium side intake vents are lightly dented.
Inside, it’s all good apart from slightly stained headlining and a couple of splits in the passenger seat – the vinyl can be restitched – plus a few repairs at the top of the rear seat. The dash is perfect except for a hole where a radio used to be.
It starts easily and the motor settles into a quiet idle with no tappet noise. It drives nicely, with a taut ride and decent synchros backing up that low mileage, and the temperature sits low.