Gordini T15S Carrera Panamerica 1952 #15/19 Manzon/Behra

Gordini T15S Carrera Panamerica 1952 #15/19 Manzon/Behra by Renaissance

The little Gordini of Manzon and Behra had impressed at Le Mans in the summer of 1952 and led the race overall for some time before being withdrawn due to brake failure. Undeterred, Amidee Gordini had two cars prepared for the gruelling Mexican road race in the November that year, one for each driver. The cars carried no co-pilots or mechanics and space dictated that a pair of spare wheels were carried strapped to the tail. Manzon’s car retired just a short distance into the race with mechanical failure but Behra once again showed the car’s pace and was leading overall at the end of the first day by nearly six minutes from the might of Ferrari and Mercedes. It wasn’t to last and he crashed out in spectacular style landing in a ravine, those twin spare wheels acting as a rollbar and saving him from serious injury. Both cars were very colourful, as was typical of CPA entries, and the decals for the decoration are very clearly printed. The body is modified from the Le Mans cars to accept those wheels and there are also a few more subtle tweaks at the front. A fascinating, good looking subject done well. What more could we want?