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A Le Mans Trailblazer

The Lorraine-Dietrich firm was the firstmarque to achieve back-to-back wins inthe legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Thesporty Type B3-6 swept the field. The Lorraine marque evolved from the deDietrich firm, established by Baron Eugènede Dietrich in the late nineteenth century.The first de Dietrich car appeared in 1897but did not race until 1899. In 1905 thecompany began marketing itsautomobiles under the nameLorraine-Dietrich, now known as Lorraine.

Lorraine was widely successful throughoutEurope and the United States, building anumber of models before thedevelopment of the winning Type B3-6 in1919. The Type B3-6 was produced until1935 with a six-cylinder engine that ran sosmoothly it was dubbed the “silken six.”  The Type B3-6’s chassis was fitted withsporty coaches designed by numerouscoachbuilders. The Mullin Type B3- 6’scabriolet coach was built by H. deCorvaïa, an independent Parisian

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coachbuilder. This car was one of ahandful of chassis produced by theLorraine factory with spare Le Mansparts—the goal being to offer privateclients a powerful car that could competeas a private entry. It is equipped with allthe Le Mans racing instruments andengine modifications as well as small cyclefenders that lighten the body. A moldingthat runs the entire length of the bodyemphasizes its form.

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 This Type B3-6 Sport Roadster, Chassis122607, first surfaced in 1968, when it waspurchased by Irving Silverman from aprivate party in southern France. In 1972 it was sold to Rick Christensen andthen purchased in 2002 by Peter Mullin,who exhibited the car at many concoursafter an extensive restoration.

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PROFILE

Coachbuilder H. De Corvaïa

Chassis number 122607

Profile type Sport

Body type Roadster cabriolet

Acceleration 0

Top Speed unavailable

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BODY | CHASSIS

Front brakes type Cable-operated

Rear brakes type Cable-operated

Front suspension type Solid axle with semielliptical leafsprings and friction shock absorbers

Rear suspension type Live axle with semielliptical leafsprings and friction shock absorbers

Length 14' 2"

Height (Ground line to highest roof) 5' 5"

Width 6'

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ENGINE

Engine number 134167

Type Inline

Displacement 3447

Distribution Overhead valves; hemisphericalheads

Engine capacity & output unavailable

Gearbox Manual

Number of gears 4

Overdrive 0

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© Mullin Automotive MuseumAll photographs courtesy of Michael Furman