A rare opportunity to own the one-off 1996 Heuliez Intruder Convertible is coming during 2024 @bonhamscars Miami Auction! Heuliez was initially founded as a coach building and design company by Adolphe Heuliez, a blacksmith from Cerizay, Deux-Sèvres , France in the year 1920. Heuliez started with producing horse-drawn carts, and by the year 1925, they had built their first body on a Peugeot 177 B chassis. In 1937, Heuliez began to produce bus bodies made entirely of steel, and in 1947, Adolphe’s youngest son, Henri took over the company from his oldest son, Louis who took command in 1923. In 1949, Heuliez participated in their first ever exhibition, the Paris Automobile Trade Fair with a long-distance touring coach of the Citroën P 45. From this point forward, Heuliez became known for the production of city/tour buses, and other specialized vehicles. Around the 1970s, their focus shifted towards the development of more traditional automobiles. By the year 1995, under the design direction of Marc Deschamps (head of styling at Heuliez Torino), the Intruder project began, using a 1990 Mercedes-Benz GE 300 as the basis. At approximately 14-feet long, 6-feet wide, and 12-inches from the ground, the Intruder perfectly harmonizes the design language of both a cabriolet and an SUV together, all while retaining the off-road capability of a G-class. The Intruder features an avant-grade sheet metal/carbon fiber body created using traditional 1:4 scale plaster modeling and an unprecedented electronically retractable two-part glass roof. The interior is just as exciting, with an abundance of blue mixed with natural metal and walnut inserts, metallic tanned leather and neoprene, and a large luggage compartment behind the occupants. Throughout its show circuit the car was first painted in white, then red, and finally, the silver shade you see here. Prior to being offered for sale during 2024 @bonhamscars Miami Auction, the car was previously treated to a ~$300,000 restoration by @dkengineering.
How many made? 1
Engine: 3.0L 6-cylinder engine
Debut: 1996 Paris Motor Show
Top Speed: n/a
0-60mph: n/a
Photo Credit: @rarecarsonly
Research: @rarecarsonly