Collection du Gérier
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Damville, Normandie, France
About
Nestled in the French countryside near Buis-sur-Damville, at the historic Château du Gérier, the Collection du Gérier was one of the most eclectic and historically significant private automobile collections in Europe. Amassed by the late Serge Pozzoli, the collection spanned over 250 rare and historically important vehicles, ranging from pioneering pre-war marques and grand prix machines to rare coachbuilt classics and experimental prototypes.
Far from a display of automotive opulence, the Collection du Gérier was a rolling tribute to forgotten marques, brilliant engineering oddities, and the enduring spirit of automotive curiosity. Notably non-commercial and deeply academic in spirit, the collection was widely admired for its commitment to originality and preservation over concours perfection.
Vehicles in the collection included the unique 1929 Alphi T10 Grand Prix (chassis 12495), several rare Delahayes and Talbot-Lagos, prototypes such as the Dolo JB10, and even competition legends like the Bugatti Type 251 and Ford GT40. Motorcycles and early industrial vehicles also featured prominently, creating a panorama of 20th-century motoring history.
Though the museum closed following Pozzoli’s passing in 1992, his legacy continues to influence collectors, historians, and enthusiasts across Europe. The Collection du Gérier remains a powerful reminder that passion and preservation often go hand in hand.
Bio
Serge Pozzoli was not just a collector, but a pioneering figure in the French automotive heritage movement. Born in 1923, Pozzoli dedicated his life to the study, preservation, and promotion of motoring history. Best known for founding and curating the Collection du Gérier, he was also an accomplished automotive historian, writer, and editor.
Pozzoli was the founding editor of Le Fanatique de l’Automobile, a publication that became a cornerstone of automotive historiography in France. Through his writing, he shed light on obscure marques, chronicled lost technologies, and introduced new generations to the emotional and technical richness of early motoring.
Unlike many collectors of his time, Pozzoli was driven not by investment or prestige, but by genuine curiosity and a profound sense of responsibility to history. He often acquired vehicles in original or unrestored condition and prioritized preserving their authenticity—even at the expense of aesthetics or value.
With a passion for the underappreciated and an encyclopedic knowledge of automotive engineering, Serge Pozzoli left behind a collection that was as intellectually rich as it was mechanically diverse. His influence endures today in the work of preservationists, historians, and enthusiasts who see cars not just as machines, but as cultural artifacts.
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1994
1992
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1969
1959
40 cars from his collection were displayed at the 1994 Rétromobile in Paris before being auctioned by Maître Hervé Poulain at the Palais des Congrès, Paris.
Delahaye 135 CS
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