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  Gordini Type 24 S      

  Article Image gallery (19) Chassis (2) Specifications  
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Country of origin:France
Produced in:1953
Numbers built:2
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:January 30, 2014
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Click here to download printer friendly versionAlways working on a shoestring budget, Amédée Gordini emerged as one of the leading French racing car manufacturers of the early 1950s. For the 1953 season, Gordini produced the company's most ambitious and sophisticated sports car yet. Dubbed the Type 24 S, this compact machine was powered by a big straight eight engine. Although it was entered for that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was not raced until the Reims 12 Hours a few weeks later.

Gordini was known as 'Le Sorcier' or 'The Wizard' and for good reason as he managed to develop the new sports racer's eight cylinder engine after longtime partner Simca had dropped their support due to disappointing results. He did cut a few corners by grafting two of the existing four cylinder blocks together to become one engine. Equipped with twin overhead camshafts and four twin-choke Weber carburettors, it displaced just under three litres. In its first guise, the long-stroke 'eight' was good for 220 bhp but this gradually grew to a claimed 265 bhp.

Mated to a five-speed gearbox, the new engine was mounted in a well honed steel tubular chassis. The front sophisticated front suspension combined double wishbones and torsion bar springs to reduce the unsprung weight. Large hydraulic drum brakes were originally fitted but from 1954 all-new Messier disc brakes were fitted. The Type 24 S rolling chassis was fitted with a somewhat unusual centrally mounted steering wheel. The all-enveloping aluminium body sported angular fenders and quadruple headlights.

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  Article Image gallery (19) Chassis (2) Specifications