Flavien and Vanessa Marçais are both steeped in motorsport. Brought up around fine motor cars in families rooted in racing on either side of the English Channel, the duo bring huge experience and passion to the challenging and often difficult roles of organising and running events.
Automobiles Historiques: Expect the Extraordinary
Client confidentiality, utmost discretion, specialist expertise, personal attention and ultimately trust are the proud professional hallmarks of Automobiles Historiques Limited. For 20 years principals Flavien and Vanessa Marçais have sourced, researched, bought and sold a plethora of the world’s finest cars.
The Anglo-French husband-and-wife team behind the growing business were both brought up in respected motoring families. Passion for motoring is in their blood. Embroiled in collecting, restoring and racing cars since childhood, Flavien and Vanessa can also draw upon a network of discreet contacts globally.
Successfully marketing extraordinary classic and competition cars demands an extremely high level of specialist knowledge. A specialist writer and historian, Flavien’s encyclopaedic memory for detail is underpinned by an exceptional automotive library and world-class photographic archive, uniquely in-house.
This notably includes the collection of Flavien’s Late grandfather Serge Pozzoli, Christian Moity’s library and Ferret Fotographics, the motorsport image library built up over decades by Ted Walker, which comprises over 7-million original images and was added to the collection in 2017.
Wife Vanessa is British, daughter of leading Jaguar restorer and specialist Aubrey Finburgh. She, too, has raced Historic sportscars. Having carved out her career in the historic motoring world from a young age, working with some of the best in the industry, Vanessa founded Automobiles Historiques Limited – parent company of the “GT & Sports Car Cup” race series – with husband Flavien some 20 years ago.
The majority of cars Automobiles Historiques deal with are not advertised, but matched by Private Treaty to individual requirements. If you are minded to acquire a very special car, or find a new custodian for one you have cherished, Automobiles Historiques Limited’s track record is exemplary. Please do not hesitate to contact them! Find out more here.
Current Inventory
1964 AC Cobra to FIA Specifications
Rooted in AC’s Thames Ditton factory, not a modern evocation, this car started life as a 1960 LHD Ace – chassis AEX 1107 – exported to the USA with AC’s own engine. Returned to its birthplace in 2008, then reconfigured to 1964 Cobra competition spec by its new owner – who commissioned the aluminium Le Mans hardtop – it is thus recognised by the AC Owners’ Club UK.
Granted an FIA HTP in 2012, it was invited to participate in that year’s Goodwood Revival’s Shelby Cup Cobra race. Acquired by the current owner in 2021, the car underwent fastidious re-preparation by renowned Cobra specialist RW Racing from 2022-2023: full certified ROPS, brand new FIA-spec 289ci engine by Knight Racing Services, new gearbox, diff and drivetrain, plus renewed suspension. New Proflex fuel tank and fire system.
Unbroken history. One race on fresh HTP valid until December 31, 2034. Offered with period UK V5 registration document 28 NOB. Ready for GTSCC and other prestigious events. Find out more
1957 Cooper-Climax T43
Cooper’s Mark II F2 chassis, designed around Coventry-Climax’s new 1475cc FPF twin-cam engine mated to a Citroën/ERSA transaxle, was a game-changer. Longer, wider and prettier than its predecessor, circa 30 were sold, this one to ambitious Sydney motor trader Alec Mildren.
Resplendent in his distinctive bright green, he drove it to a debut victory at the nearby Mount Druitt airfield circuit in November 1957. Two wins at Lowood, Queensland, the latter with a two-litre FPF, helped Mildren to second place in the 1958 Australian Drivers’ Championship.
Refinished in Rob Walker Racing livery, per Stirling Moss’s fabled 1958 Argentine GP winner, for Stirling to demo at the 1994 Australian GP. Very original continuous history, HGPCA, Goodwood and Monaco Historic GP contender, offered with two-litre engine, spares (including block) and HTP. Find out more
1964 Cooper Monaco T61P Maserati
A product of two pioneering Formula 1 World Championship-winning marques, the ultimate Cooper Monaco sports racing car is beautiful and unique.
Built by Tommy Atkins’ High Efficiency Motors for Roy Salvadori, the Cooper Monaco’s widened F1-derived chassis, five-litre 430bhp quad-cam Maserati V8 engine [from the 1962 Tipo 151 Le Mans GT project] and Colotti T37 transaxle, are shrouded in a stunning aluminium body.
Debuted unpainted in the BRDC’s International Trophy support race at Silverstone, Salvadori finished a class-winning second. A fortnight later, in Atkins’ glorious metallic green livery, they won Goodwood’s Whitsun Trophy.
Fully sorted, with rebuilt engine and current HTP, it is a passport to the world’s finest Historic racing and concours events. An unmissable opportunity for Maserati ‘tifosi’ to be its sixth custodian. Find out more
1967 Lola T70 MkIII
Chassis Number: SL73/108
The 1967 Lola T70 MkIII we are proud to offer boasts significant period and historic racing history. Sold via US agent John Mecom to privateer Lawrence ‘Woody’ Young’s Binghamton Automobile Racing Fraternity team for 1967, chassis SL73/108 was a podium finisher in the SCCA US Road Racing Championship, raced by rising talent Bill Eve. New owner Marvin Webster fielded Eve in five Can-Am races and ex-F1 racer Tony Settember in 1968.
Converted to MkIII coupe configuration – as many spyders were – early in its life and repatriated to Europe in 2013, the car was fully rebuilt in 2014-’5. Competitive in CER1 and Masters events since 2016, Plateau 5 victory in the 2022 Le Mans Classic, piloted by its current custodian, is the jewel in its crown.
Meticulously prepared by Martin Stretton Racing, newly crack tested and freshly nickel plated, this magnificent machine is offered with HTP papers and a comprehensive spares package. A wonderful way to fly the Lola flag at the world’s most prestigious race events. Find out more
