BOLD RETURN
Long-forgotten car brand ready to launch eye-catching sports car after DECADES away – & it’s based on an iconic classic
It's been nearly 70 years since the company went bankrupt - but now they're back
A CAR brand that is scarcely remembered and went bankrupt some 70-odd years ago is back with a shockingly cool sports car.
Better yet, they've built their new set of wheels around the look of one of the world's most famous classic cars.
4
4
Saoutchik, a renowned French coachbuilder from the 1920s, is hardly a household name - even among the most dedicated of petrolheads.
But back in the Golden Age of motoring, they were known for their work with a variety of different chassis - from the likes of Jaguar, Renault and Cadillac.
It was their link with Mercedes that they were perhaps best remembered for, having worked on the bodywork for the 680 S Torpedo and 500 K Cabriolet.
Now, they're back, with a striking-looking sports car based on the iconic Mercedes 300 SL.
Read more Motors News
Called the Saoutchik 300 GTC, the motor pays tribute to their historic partnership with the German marque.
The coachbuilder, which went bankrupt in 1955, claim the 300 GTC has been handcrafted with “all the spirit and personality of the iconic Mercedes 300 SL”.
Typically, the car features plenty of retro-futuristic qualities, including a low-set grille, large round headlights, cool flared wheelarches, and chromed wheels that are 22 inches in size.
Inside, the car seems to be based on several different Merc models, with the driver’s display similar to the previous-generation SL, while the dash layout resembles the current model.
Most read in Motors
While additional information about the 300 GTC is scarce, Autoexpress believes it will get a top-of-the-range version of the Mercedes SL’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that can produce 577bhp.
Luxury car brand unveils ‘sportiest model in its history’ to rival Ferrari
Sadly, just 15 examples of the 300 GTC will be built, and it will likely cost a pretty penny.
While a price tag has yet to be announced, Autoexpress predict it will eclipse the most expensive Mercedes SL 63 S E Performance Ultimate, which costs £198,345.
Little else is known about Saoutchik in their current form and their return.
However, the company's social media posts suggests they've partnered with Ugur Sahin Design, a Dutch design company, and Pogea Racing, a German tuning firm.
This comes as another little-known car brand is ready to launch in the UK with their first EV coming within months, ready to undercut BMW.
Elsewhere, Kia are ready to take on the might of the Ford Transit van with a very futuristic-looking EV.
4
4
Topics