112 - 1937 DE SOTO S3 CONVERTIBLE

1937 DE SOTO S3 CONVERTIBLE Serial No. 5160000 Collector’s Registration Certificate An American Car in the Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Some cars bring us closer to those who drove them. This 1937 DeSoto S3, which once belonged to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, evokes a lesser-known facet of the writer-aviator: his passion for cars and the thrill of the open road. With only 992 units produced in its Convertible Coupe version, the S3 combines generous styling with a 3.7-liter six-cylinder engine. Its long hood, curved fenders, and retractable rear seat give it all the character of a late-1930s American convertible. A car designed for comfortable travel, whose understated elegance remains deeply appealing to this day. The history of this particular car takes us back to the roads around Lyon and to Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens, where Saint-Exupéry spent part of his childhood. According to local recollections reported by collector Franck Béjat, the author is said to have left behind a reputation as a speed-loving driver… Moreover, a number of accounts recount amusing episodes and confirm “Saint-Ex’s” attachment to his American car: “His spacious convertible, packed with treasures” As a special exception, Captain de Saint-Exupéry kept his spacious De Soto convertible with him in the military, crammed with treasures that followed him from one barracks to the next. So sometimes in the evening, as we left the mess hall along the dark, muddy street where the farm he lived on was located at the corner, he’d whisper to me: “Tonight, doc, instead of philosophy, how about a concert?” We understood each other perfectly then, without exchanging a single word; thanks to his record changer (a marvel at the time), we’d put together a program of 17th- and 18th-century music, of which he carried with him a staggering collection—including some rare recordings... (Text: “ICARE” AIRLINE PILOTS’ MAGAZINE) Another of his contemporaries also recounts this anecdote: He would sometimes take us on breathtaking drives in his new De Soto, which he drove at 140 per hour on the bumpy, cobblestone roads of eastern France. His passengers remembered his disconcerting habit of slowing down to a crawl or suddenly accelerating, depending on the intensity of the conversation. It was in Saint-Exupéry’s car that members of the patrol faced their greatest danger... (Text: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE LITTLE PRINCE) And despite the relentless pace this DeSoto seems to have endured at the hands of its illustrious driver, it has reached us 80 years later still going strong! Acquired by Franck Béjat in 2011 in exchange for three classic cars, this DeSoto has been carefully preserved ever since. A file of invoices shows that its owner has kept it in running condition. From 2011 to 2019, numerous mechanical and bodywork upgrades—not to mention interior work—were carried out. Since then, the car has been driven from time to time. This DeSoto was showcased at Époqu’Auto in 2019 as part of a tribute to the writer. Its presence was also mentioned in *La Lettre d’Antoine*, which notes that it once belonged to Saint-Exupéry. With its uncommon make and its history, this DeSoto combines two attractions that collectors appreciate: the pleasure of a pre-war automobile and its connection to a unique life story. To take the wheel of this rolling piece of heritage, open the convertible top, and hit the country roads is to carry on, in one’s own way, the story of this American car that has become a memento of Saint-Exupéry. 1937 — DeSoto S3 Convertible Serial number 5160000 French historic vehicle registration An American car in the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Some cars bring us closer to the people who drove them. This 1937 DeSoto S3, once owned by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, reveals a less familiar side of the writer and aviator: his enthusiasm for cars and the pleasures of the open road. One of only 992 examples produced as a Convertible Coupe, the S3 combines generous proportions with a 3.7-liter six-cylinder engine. Its long hood, sweeping fenders, and fold-out rear dickey seat give it the unmistakable character of a late-1930s American convertible. Designed for comfortable touring, its understated elegance remains appealing today. This car’s history takes us back to the roads around Lyon and to Saint-Maurice-de-Rémens, where Saint-Exupéry spent part of his childhood. According to local recollections gathered by collector Franck Béjat, the author was remembered there as a driver with a taste for speed… Several accounts describe entertaining episodes