To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Petersen Automotive Museum Auction event, 8 December 2018.
Estimate:
$35,000 - $45,000
- A fully intact barn-find that has been professionally
restored
- Affordable post-war French mass transit . . . now without
pedals!
Perhaps no car more perfectly exemplifies the ethos of the
"microcar" than the delightful little runabouts produced by the
genius mind of Georges Mochet. His first creation was the
pedal-operated Velocar, which restored to a downtrodden post-war
French population the pride and dignity of once again owning a
vehicle with four wheels. But as countless other companies started
up production, it was clear Mochet had to refine his concept with a
proper factory-designed and installed motor in the product range.
The wood-bodied Type H developed into the Type K, an all-steel Type
K, the first Mochet without pedals, powered by a 125-cc version of
the ubiquitous Zuricher motor, which was mated to a separate
three-speed gearbox. The lack of curves and complex design made the
car utterly unique but also tremendously easy to assemble.
In fact, the CM-125, which followed on from the Type K and of which
this is a particularly exceptional example, was successful enough
to be produced for five years. Part of its success came because the
owner could take delivery within a period of weeks, not the many
months required by the larger manufacturers to fill orders. Another
reason was accessibility: no license was required to drive a car
with 125-cc displacement. Of course, the absolute simplicity of
maintenance of such a basic vehicle also played into its
appeal.
This CM-125 Luxe was a completely original and unrestored barn
find, having remained virtually untouched for nearly six decades.
It was in very complete condition, complete with its original
paint, top bows, and even the hand-operated windshield wiper. Since
then, the delightful little Mochet was fully restored by the Bruce
Weiner Microcar Museum in the striking colors of yellow and black.
No stone was left unturned in bringing an extremely well-preserved
original CM-125 back to its correct presentation.
The final iteration of Georges Mochet's vision, it is perhaps the
perfect execution of the brilliant post-war microcar concept.To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/ca18.
