A slump in demand for the products of its Saint-Denis munitions factory prompted Hotchkiss to diversify into motor manufacture in the early 1900s.

The company was already a major supplier of components to the automobile industry, and right from the start the famous 'Hotchkiss Drive' (by live axle and open propeller shaft) was a feature of its cars.

Hotchkiss would go on to become one of the great French makers of 'Grandes Routières'.

Introduced in 1936, the six-cylinder 3.5-litre 686 replaced the 620 and from 1937 was also available as the high-performance Grand Sport and twin-carburettor Paris-Nice variants.

It was cars such as these that enabled Hotchkiss to extend its near stranglehold on the Monte Carlo Rally, with six outright victories from ten Rallies in the period 1932-1950 , plus several placings and class wins.

The 686 won the Monte in 1939, 1949 and 1950.

A long-lived model, the 686 resumed production after WW2 and was last offered in 1952.

Offered here is a rare exam...