Amilcar's racing jewel

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Barely pausing for breath after the publication of his latest book on Alfa Romeo Grand Prix cars - The Magnificent Monopostos - Simon Moore has jumped head-first into researching a rather different machine. The Amilcar C0 and C6 have attained a legendary status since the C0's debut outing at Montlhéry in 1925. Unlike anything the Parisian marque had built before, the C0 was a dedicated racing machine which broke away entirely from its cyclecar-style predecessors. At its heart was a jewel-like six-cylinder engine of 1100cc, with a dry sump and roller bearing crankshaft designed by Edmond Moyet, wrapped in a beautifully functional open-wheeled body.

Although the Amilcar works team stopped campaigning the C0s in 1928, the cars, and their slightly detuned C6 brethren, continued to succeed in the hands of private drivers for many years, a testament to their excellent design. Few C0 and C6 Amilcars were built, but their competition careers were varied and numerous, and Simon is the first to seriously research this subject. The results of his labours are presented in the latest issue of The Automobile, which is out now. The Magnificent Monopostos can be ordered from AutoNet in The Netherlands and Chaters in the UK.

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