Ballot 2 LTS Cabriolet Figoni
French title - Very rare and exclusive Ballot 2 LTS - Eligible for the Mille Miglia - Coming from the André Surmain collection - No Reserve Ballot started out in 1905 when the brothers Edouard and Maurice Ballot began to make stationary and marine engines. Before the First World War, the Etablissements BALLOT was a prosperous manufacturer of marine engines. This is the origin of the anchor on the emblem of the company installed in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, on Boulevard Brune. After the war, the news that Peugeot was to take part in 1919 in the Indianapolis 500-mile Race convinced Edouard Ballot to develop the first Ballot automobile. This was a superb racing car with a straight eight-cylinder engine of almost 5-litres, designed by the genius of the day, Ernest Henry, who had been responsible for the pre-war Peugeot L 76. They caught the racing bug and went on to participate in the French Grand Prix in 1921. A 2-litre racing car gave rise to a road-going version. In 1922, responding to a strong, unmet demand, the firm presented the 10/11CV type 2 LT model, an evolution of the competition 2 LS, and certainly the most aristocratic 2-litre car of its day ! Equipped with a 4-cylinder, twin-overhead-cam 1944cc engine, it remained in production until 1924. In 1923, Ballot presented the 2 LT, with twin-overhead-cam and crankshaft supported by three bearings. A sport version, the 2 LTS followed shortly after, with larger valves. The Ballot 2 Litres Sport remains a legendary car, a testimony to the genius of Ernest Henry, and a flagship for the French automobile industry of the day. At the start of the 1920s, there was no other sports car, even one with half as much power again, that could rival it. In 1926, a six-cylinder version was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show, but it was never produced and was replaced the following year by the RH, with a 2.8-litre twin-overhead-cam straight-eight engine. Two or three examples of the Ballot 2 LTS were delivered to England which, along with the yellow and black Paris Motor Show car and the example in blue with snakeskin interior from the Concours d'Elégance de l'Auto, meant there were at least five cabriolets built by Figoni. During the 1960s, André Surmain, an important Delage collector and owner of Lutèce, the renowned New York restaurant, noticed an ad in the old car magazine, Hemmings, for a Ballot 2 LTS for sale near Chicago. He went and bought the car that had been imported from England by the previous owner. This rare Figoni cabriolet, in original condition, still had the period English number plate VB 820. On moving to France, André Surmain brought the Delages and the Ballot with him. However, he didn't begin the restoration until the start of the 1980s. The Weimann imitation leather and the wooden parts of the body were re-furbished, along with the interior upholstery, the hood, the rear trunk and the chrome. The car was also mechanically overhauled. Following the restoration, André Surmain took part in numerous rallies and concours d'élégance events, including the Historic Mille Miglia. He owns an important collection of vintage cars with a particular interest in the Delage D8S. He was responsible for saving and restoring this 1927 Ballot 2 LTS which is offered today in very good working order and presentation. It is immediately eligible for the Mille Miglia and can provide its new owner with a drive in an exclusive car with known history.
French title - Very rare and exclusive Ballot 2 LTS - Eligible for the Mille Miglia - Coming from the André Surmain collection - No Reserve Ballot started out in 1905 when the brothers Edouard and Maurice Ballot began to make stationary and marine engines. Before the First World War, the Etablissements BALLOT was a prosperous manufacturer of marine engines. This is the origin of the anchor on the emblem of the company installed in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, on Boulevard Brune. After the war, the news that Peugeot was to take part in 1919 in the Indianapolis 500-mile Race convinced Edouard Ballot to develop the first Ballot automobile. This was a superb racing car with a straight eight-cylinder engine of almost 5-litres, designed by the genius of the day, Ernest Henry, who had been responsible for the pre-war Peugeot L 76. They caught the racing bug and went on to participate in the French Grand Prix in 1921. A 2-litre racing car gave rise to a road-going version. In 1922, responding to a strong, unmet demand, the firm presented the 10/11CV type 2 LT model, an evolution of the competition 2 LS, and certainly the most aristocratic 2-litre car of its day ! Equipped with a 4-cylinder, twin-overhead-cam 1944cc engine, it remained in production until 1924. In 1923, Ballot presented the 2 LT, with twin-overhead-cam and crankshaft supported by three bearings. A sport version, the 2 LTS followed shortly after, with larger valves. The Ballot 2 Litres Sport remains a legendary car, a testimony to the genius of Ernest Henry, and a flagship for the French automobile industry of the day. At the start of the 1920s, there was no other sports car, even one with half as much power again, that could rival it. In 1926, a six-cylinder version was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show, but it was never produced and was replaced the following year by the RH, with a 2.8-litre twin-overhead-cam straight-eight engine. Two or three examples of the Ballot 2 LTS were delivered to England which, along with the yellow and black Paris Motor Show car and the example in blue with snakeskin interior from the Concours d'Elégance de l'Auto, meant there were at least five cabriolets built by Figoni. During the 1960s, André Surmain, an important Delage collector and owner of Lutèce, the renowned New York restaurant, noticed an ad in the old car magazine, Hemmings, for a Ballot 2 LTS for sale near Chicago. He went and bought the car that had been imported from England by the previous owner. This rare Figoni cabriolet, in original condition, still had the period English number plate VB 820. On moving to France, André Surmain brought the Delages and the Ballot with him. However, he didn't begin the restoration until the start of the 1980s. The Weimann imitation leather and the wooden parts of the body were re-furbished, along with the interior upholstery, the hood, the rear trunk and the chrome. The car was also mechanically overhauled. Following the restoration, André Surmain took part in numerous rallies and concours d'élégance events, including the Historic Mille Miglia. He owns an important collection of vintage cars with a particular interest in the Delage D8S. He was responsible for saving and restoring this 1927 Ballot 2 LTS which is offered today in very good working order and presentation. It is immediately eligible for the Mille Miglia and can provide its new owner with a drive in an exclusive car with known history.
