Unregistered

Chassis no. 1684 Engine no. 42031

Unregistered

Chassis no. 1684

Engine no. 42031

- Bodywork known to be original

- Good running order

-  From a major Belgian collection

- No reserve

The car manufacturer F.N. (Fabrique Nationale) was a Belgian company founded in 1889 which initially specialised in making firearms. From the beginning of the 20th century, however, it diversified its operations and turned to producing motor vehicles, including cars and motorbikes. F.N. also made its mark in the history of motorsport from its earliest days. After starting to produce motor vehicles at the beginning of the 20th century, F.N. quickly turned to motor racing to test and promote the reliability and performance of its cars. The company took part in several famous races, including the French and Belgian Grands Prix.

One of the most noteworthy moments in F.N.’s motorsport history was its participation in the first editions of the Gordon Bennett Cup, a prestigious motor race held in the 1900s. In 1902, F.N. scored the first Belgian victory in this competition, an achievement which strengthened the company’s reputation on the international stage.

This cyclecar is very interesting, as it still has its original bodywork and because its history is almost complete, with supporting documentation for most of it. It is an FN fitted with two-seater bodywork in machine-turned aluminium with a ‘Bordino’ tail. A beautifully built car, its authenticity can be proven thanks to a photograph from 1931, six or so years after it was delivered. A document and accompanying photograph also indicate that it was involved in a collision around 1925. In addition, the son of its third owner states very precisely in a letter that his father bought the car on 22 March 1931 and sold it on 22 June 1959. He noted that in 1940 his father hid the car, to prevent it from being stolen by the German troops, “under an enormous pile of bales of vegetable hair”. The FN later showed up in Sweden, and after a spell in England, Bruno Vendiesse sold it to its current owner, a Belgian collector who is a great fan of pre-war cars. It has taken part regularly in different rallies and meetings. It is a very sporty-looking car, powered by a 2-litre engine capable of taking it up to 90/100kph. A fine opportunity.