Salmson 2300 S History

Unveiled at the 1953 Paris Salon, the 2300 S was Salmson's swan song: a purposeful 2+2 coupé styled by Eugène Martin with bodywork built by Esclassan (39 cars) and coachbuilder Henri Chapron (the remaining majority). Its 2,328 cc alloy inline-four with twin overhead camshafts and twin carburettors produced approximately 105–110 hp, giving a top speed around 180 km/h — strong performance for a small French sports car of the period.

Salmson entered the 2300 S at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times — in 1955, 1956, and 1957 — the 1956 entry famously running in near-standard road trim, complete with radio. Although none of the Le Mans appearances yielded notable results against purpose-built competition machinery, the car proved a capable rally competitor, recording 13 event victories in 1954.

Production was always tiny: approximately 217 2300 cars were built in total, of which only around 121 were the Sport versions; fewer than 80 are believed to survive worldwide. With Renault's purchase of the Salmson factory in 1957, all automotive activities ceased, ending a 36-year chapter in French engineering history.