French Vintage Sports Cars: The Forgotten Beauties of the 1960s

Forgotten BEAUTY - As we know, the four-wheeled vehicle industry began its development in the early 20th century and has continued to thrive till date. Over the years, countless cars have been produced by manufacturers, appearing on the roads for a moment and then fading away.

Rows of SOVAM 1100VS sports cars photographed by members of the Automobiles SOVAM club in France. (Picture from: AutomobilesSOVAM)

Among the many forgotten cars made by the automotive industry in the past, some have managed to capture our attention, like the sports cars produced by the French manufacturer SOVAM in the 1960s. 

The French company, short for SOciété des Véhicules André Morin, was renowned for its production of airport utility vehicles and delivery trucks. In the 1960s, they ventured into producing sports cars, and you might recall the association of André Morin's name with the production of the unique old French scooter brand, Scootavia in the 1950s.

The first sports car designed by Jacques Durand for SOVAM was the SOVAM 850VS, and unveiled at the 1964 Paris Motor Show. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

Unlike fellow French automaker Alpine, SOVAM designed their cars using components sourced from Renault, combined with bespoke fiberglass bodies. The company had prior experience in constructing fiberglass bodies for industrial vehicles, and they enlisted the services of the renowned automotive designer Jacques Durand to design and build their sports cars.

The SOVAM 1100VS which is the most popular model started to be produced by SOVAM in 1966. (Picture from: Artcurial)

As quoted from Silodrome, Durand was a well-known automotive designer in France, who had been creating small sports cars with fiberglass bodies since the 1950s. The first sports car he designed for SOVAM was the SOVAM 850VS, unveiled at the 1964 Paris Motor Show. As the name suggests, the car was powered by an 850 cc engine sourced from the Renault 4, with "VS" standing for Voiture de Sports. 

The SOVAM 1100VS windshield was sourced from the Renault Floride and flipped up before installation. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Indeed, the 850VS was based on the Renault 4 running gear, including chassis, a 45 hp engine, gearbox, suspension, and brakes. The windshield, however, was sourced from the Renault Floride and flipped up before installation. While not exceptionally fast, the car was relatively affordable, allowing the company to sell around 62 units.

The SOVAM 1100VS powered by a 65 hp engine with a capacity of 1,108 cc sourced from the Renault Cléon-Fonte. (Picture from: Artcurial)

Only in 1966 did SOVAM achieve significant success with its most popular model, the SOVAM 1100VS. Similar to its predecessor, the number in the name indicated the engine capacity, in this case, a 65 hp engine with a capacity of 1,108 cc sourced from the Renault Cléon-Fonte.

The new engine gave the 570-lbs car genuine sporting credentials, capable of reaching a top speed of 105 mph, though not particularly fast by today's standards. (Picture from: Artcurial)

The new engine gave the 570-lbs car genuine sporting credentials, capable of reaching a top speed of 105 mph, though not particularly fast by today's standards. Nevertheless, it managed to achieve several accomplishments in various French domestic racing events during that period. 

The Sovam 1300GS was released in 1967 as 1100VS successor, boasting slightly powerful 103 hp drivetrain. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

In 1967, the 1100VS piloted by Maïté Patoux won the women's title at the Rallye National d'Automne in La Rochelle. Additionally, driver Maurice Barros steered the 1100VS at the Critérium des Maures, Rallye des Roses, and Rallye du Vaucluse in the same year. 

There is a slight difference between the Sovam 1300GS and 1100VS its predecessor lie in the shape of the boxy headlights, as well as and the more square-shaped stern. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

During its relatively short lifespan from 1966 to 1968, a total of 77 Sovam 1100VS cars were built. In 1967, the Sovam 1300GS was released as its successor, boasting a fast 103 hp engine, but it sold relatively few units, with only an estimated 6 ever built. And here is a video capturing the exhilarating experience of driving the SOVAM 1100VS (Any idea what they're talking about? 🤔)

Today, SOVAM-made cars are highly collectible due to their unique nature and rarity, commanding higher prices. An example is the blue 1966 SOVAM 1100VS, which was auctioned by Artcurial on July 7, 2018, and sold for a hammer price of €11,920, equivalent to $13,975 (approximately Rp. 200 million in Indonesian Rupiah). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOMOBILESSOVAM | SILODROME | ARTCURIAL | AUTA5P.EU | FORUM-AUTOCARADISIAC | CLASSICCARCATALOGUE ]

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