In 1952 the coachbuilder Esclassan exhibited a special bodied cabriolet version based on the Randonnée but inspired by the General Motors “Le Sabre” dream car.

Government taxation policy combined with post war austerity to kill off several French auto-makers at this time, and Salmson’s experience was typical.

By the time of the 1952 Paris Motor Show the Randonnée was the only model featured, with two cars crammed onto a very small stand, being either a sedan and a cabriolet, both unchanged since the previous year.

French taxation policy strongly discouraged cars with engines sizes of above 2 litres at this time, and Salmson scheduled the appearance at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952 of a car based on the Randonnée but modernised, slightly smaller, and featuring an engine that would place it in the 10CV taxation class.

A Salmson Randonnée featured in the 1995 movie Une femme française produced by Régis Wargnier