Born from the imagination of a designer, inspired by the lines of a Franco Sbarro or a Marcello Gandini, this Matchbox is an astonishing cross between the Stratos P0, the Ferrari Rainbow and the Lancia Sibilo.

From one hammer blow to the next

Matthieu Lamoure, director of the Artcurial Motorcars auction house, talks to us about his Matchbox and his childhood with the eloquence of a stage performer.

This little car produced the initial emotion, a kind of wonder mixed with curiosity, the emotion that would guide my life choices.

A gift from my mother one spring day at our home in Saint-Céré in the Lot region, she had placed it on the tray of my high chair when she returned from shopping. Even today, she fondly describes my astonished look when I discovered this four-wheeled object, whose opening revealed a surprisingly elegant plastic interior. 

This unidentified Matchbox was the first in a great love affair with my Majorette, Norev, Hot Wheels, and Solido cars. My preference, however, was for the Majorette brand. These miniatures, equipped with the best shock absorbers, allowed me to simulate skidding by leaning the car mid-corner, all accompanied by the characteristic sound that all grown-ups will easily recognize: "Ruuuuuiiiiiiiiiii!" 

My toy cars possessed a kind of privilege: the ability to enter the most sensational miniature junkyard in the world, designed especially for them. Thus, most models passed through my hands, acquiring dust, scratches, a removed door, a detached engine, or a smashed roof—perhaps my first precise hammer blows. This Matchbox, however, was remarkably spared and preserved as my most prized treasure.

Some thirty-five years later, thanks to my profession, I participated in  The discovery of the craziest barn find of the century: The Baillon Collection! Needless to say, my childhood imagination was becoming reality, and it was dazzling to see my miniature junkyard reproduced at full scale, 80 racing cars piled up, sometimes more damaged than mine, sold for tens of millions of euros under my other gavel.

I also remember being ten years old, when my father gave me a subscription to "Classic Automobiles." I discovered a whole new world with delight, dreaming over the photographs, scrutinizing every detail of the exceptional cars I quickly became so fond of. The big names in the automotive world crowded my mind: Hervé Poulain and his Art Cars, Pininfarina and his dream Ferraris, renowned collectors. I was completely captivated by this world of design and speed, and I felt that unique energy so characteristic of childhood passions. 

Meanwhile, my mother, an art teacher, was trying to introduce me to art history through visits to the greatest museums in Europe. I must admit, at that age, I wasn't exactly thrilled to discover the influence of painting and sculpture movements on aesthetic trends throughout the centuries! I found this subject boring, even soporific, compared to the world of automobiles. 

It now seems clear to me that these maternal lessons laid the foundations for my future professional life. My mother provided me with essential tools, passing on her thirst for culture, her energy, her enthusiasm, and above all, a great sensitivity to perfection and the pursuit of the ideal form. 

After graduating from high school, I hesitated between studying automotive design or art business. One day, astonished and filled with admiration, I had the chance to attend a spectacular auction by Hervé Poulain, who, at the Palais des Congrès, auctioned off cars more beautiful than the next, all with unparalleled oratorical skill. That day was like a rendezvous with destiny. Auctioning would be the best job in the world for a car lover like me, the best job for  discover, tell stories, meet, share, travel, contemplate and dramatize! 

From the little Matchbox toy I held in my child's hands to testing the most prestigious and exciting cars in history, there were ultimately only a few hammer blows!

"I didn't know it yet, riding that motorcycle, but my journey would always be more beautiful, full of encounters and great stories..."

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