1928 Pedroso Special

The Soriano-Pedroso was a French manufactured automobile, produced from 1919 until 1924, and built at their manufacturing facilities in the French coastal town of Biarritz. Power was initially sourced by engines manufactured by French automobile maker Ballot, with displacement sizes of 1,131 and 1,590 cubic centimeters. Later, a 902 cubic-centimeter Ruby-engined cyclecar joined the lineup.

The Soriano-Pedroso was built by two native Spaniards Marques de San Carlos de Pedroso and Marques de Ivanrey Ricardo Soriano Sholtz von Hermensdorff, and although their main product was marine engines, in 1928, San Carlos de Pedroso built two specially designed two-liter prototype straight-eight supercharged twin-cam engines. It had variable timing for the double-overhead-camshafts which were controlled from the cockpit, a supercharger, and all-aluminum construction. The two-liter engine was paired with a three-speed manual transmission with all round drum brakes providing the stopping power. There are twin-mounted rear spare tires and a Brooklands-type aero windscreen.
Two Pedrosos were built with Marquis de Pedroso intending to use them in the Le Mans 24-Hour race. The dashboard carries an array of period Jaeger and Le Nivex gauges, and Marchal headlights are at the front. Prior to LeMans, de Pedroso was injured in an accident in another car and was unable to compete in the race.

In the 1960s, this Pedroso Roadster was exported to the United States by the Marques' son, Jose Luis de Pedroso who raced it at vintage events on the East Coast. More recently, the car has resided in the Vault of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The Pedroso wears an older restoration and has not been operated for some time.
Of the two Pedroso's, only serial number 101 is believed to have survived World War II.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021