AutoCult Mismaque Squal, red (F)

The story behind the sports car later known as Mismaque Squal began in 1956. The young engineer Guy Mismaque planned to create a cost-effective sports car that would utilize production components from a Renault. Over three years, the concept was developed, which was to be called the Coupé Sport Mismaque. The sporty variant was intended to cost no more than the French people's car, the Citroen 2CV. However, the production of the prototype took longer than expected. By 1959, it seemed that the planning was nearing completion. The drive was provided by the 425 cc, 12 hp engine from the 2CV, along with its transmission. With its lightweight plastic body, the Mismaque was expected to weigh only 350 kg, while the Citroen 2CV weighed 520 kg at that time. With the flat and aerodynamically shaped design drawn by Guy Mismaque, the car would reach speeds of nearly 120 km/h. A distinctive feature of the sports car was two prominently shaped wing-like fins at the rear, reminiscent of modern airplanes, which were intended to concentrate downforce in the center of the rear area, thus providing the car with greater stability on the road. The first vehicle was finally completed in the autumn of 1960, yet Guy Mismaque found neither then nor later a producer willing to help bring the sports car to series production. Various discrepancies, poorly launched press releases, and Guy Mismaque himself contributed to the fact that it is now unknown how many Mismaque sports cars were ultimately produced. Within the community, experts currently estimate that four examples were made, but it would not be surprising if there were more.