A Perfectly Preserved Hotchkiss Limo From 1911

Prewar preservation has become one of the most fascinating car classes at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Each year a new group of dark, dingy, untouched, unmolested, and often barely cleaned cars take their place amngst the glossy display of the world’s fabulous cars, competing for their own awards. While not a winner, this 1911 Hotchkiss AD Amiet Enclosed Limousine caught my attention in 2014.

Hotchkiss is a French car, though founded by an American businessman Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss. It began as an armaments manufacturer in 1867, turned to engine components at the turn of the century for Panhard et Levassor, De Dion-Bouton and others, finally making their own automobile in 1903.

Note the crossed cannons in the automobile badge, a nod to their origins.

They purchased a Mercedes Simplex as inspiration and their first car was quite similar however, the ground breaking “Hotchkiss Drive” a swing axel transmission was brand new. They produced their first armored car complete with machine gun in 1909, but they didn’t garner any major production with their early pre-war cars. Which is what makes this 1911 limo such a find.

Almost no information can be found regarding Parisian coachbuilder, Amiet. History on this particular car is slim as well, reported to be a textbook barn find when purchased by the American owner in 2004. The carefully preserved Hotchkiss AD has the original 45hp with 5.9 liter engine and pretty much everything else.
Regardless on what side of this argument you fall, when a car is in such complete original condition, it is worth preserving as an homage to history. If for nothing else, this is a study in what materials hold up! 1911 Hotchkiss AD Amiet Limousine, 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, The war between the preservation class and restoration class will likely never end, but one thing is for sure, when one comes across a completely original 1911 car, you stop and appreciate.