Three Books on French Etceterinis

Robert Bosvin: La 4CV Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale Pixel studio press 2008 Softbound, 84 pages, 142 photos,168 x 230 mm, ISBN 978-2-917038-04-8 21 Euros (27 USD)

Review by Michael Catsch

You’ve not heard of the Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale? You are forgiven. The Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale (BMS) is a very successful example of that rare breed of French etceterinis. These French etceterinis are mainly grouped in two main categories: the Panhard based (using at least Panhard motors) and the Renault 4CV-based cars.

The BMS is part of the latter group. Robert Bosvin, the author, has recounted in this slim book the story of his late father Camille Bosvin, who, like many others, started to built specials after World War II. But he did far more than just used the ‘hot’ 4CV 1063 (the tuned race special of the factory) as basis. Bosvin went all the way; he built his own space-framed cars with mid-mounted engine, turned around by 180°, so you have the classical engine, gearbox, differential arrangement. He even did scientific studies and calculations on aerodynamics during the evolution of the cars (in the book some examples are shown). Therefore the BMS was very advanced for its time.

Guy Michel, a friend of Camille, owned the cars and raced them very succesfully, leaving the role of constructor and mechanic to Camille. They built one or two cars , which were modified from year to year. At first they called them “Tanks”, then “barquettes” and much later the bodywork was finally constructed by Chappe et Gessalin, who later produced some of their own CG-cars (of course there is a book on CG too!)

BMS didn’t just enter local French events–far from that. The Rally Monte Carlo, races at Monthlèry, the Mille Miglia, the Bol d’Or, the Tour de France and of course the 24 hours at Le Mans. They achieved good results in their class (the famous French 750cc-class, which later was also the playground of Colin Chapman’s Lotus.) Being a 100 per cent private constructor, their succes was significant, often placing right behind the D.B. (works) cars.

Robert Bosvin tells us the story of his father’s constructions with wonderful period pictures, and then we also get the whole racing story with evocative pictures and some results.The whole little book comes alive due to the Bosvin Archive pictures from the family. It is a complete insight of one little French marque not very much known today.

If that theme wetted your appetite here is another, also from the French publisher Pixel press studio, that is the imprint through which GAZOLINE, a very interesting French magazine, publishes its books.

La Saga sportive de la Renault 4CV by Francois Rivage. 2007. Softbound 288 pages, 258 photos, 168 x 230 mm, ISBN 978-29508829-9-8 43 Euros (56 USD)

Here is exhaustive information on the 4CV 1063 (the race special) with the development, the works-entered cars, race results and hundreds of race photographs.

But the works entries constitute only one part of the book. As with the BMS there are many, many other specials, here all based on the Renault 4CV, and they are all presented here, the obscure one-offs, but also the beginnings of the Rédélé cars which later became the famous Alpine. There are no special chapters for these cars in the book, but they are shown and mentioned where they have been raced or participated. Hundred of photos accompany the book.

Both books can be ordered from Boutique Gazoline http://boutique.gazoline.net/categorie.pcgi?cat=12

Last but not least there is a title Sportives tricolores de 1950-70 by Jean Paul Decker. Published by ETAI.

This is a glossy overview, not going extremely deep, but lots of information on specials including those based on Panhard and Renault. Furthermore there are other small makers discussed such as the JIDE and Ligier. This book complements the others very well, and gives one a good insight of the French etceterinis-which where nearly as diverse as the Italian ones. Found at Librairie-Passionautomobile.com