1930 Monaco Grand Prix poster – Robert Falcucci
This classic Robert Falcucci 1930 Monaco Grand Prix poster was the first of three the artist created to promote the early races of one of the world’s most prestigious motorsports events. The 1930 Grand Prix was only the second time the race had ever been held. The poster for the inaugural race was a simple three-colour text-only broadsheet. The 1930 race meeting is the first time a poster was used to promote the Monaco race that contained such a dynamic racing image.
Falcucci’s poster certainly didn’t disappoint. His bold and dynamic poster is now one of the most desirable and instantly recognisable race posters from the Golden Age of Motor Racing. Falcucci’s motor racing painting depicts a dramatic image of the beautiful super-charged type SSKL cars built by Mercedes Benz. The SSKL or Super-Sport-Kurz-Leicht (Super-sport-short-light) was the last version of the six-cylinder compressor sports car from the German car manufacturer. It was built solely as a two-seater racing car. Falcucci has set the magnificent seven-litre, six-cylinder beast against a bright red background. This poster is not going to get missed!
The poster shows the car head-on. Its pilot with his flat leather helmet and goggles leans out of the vehicle to get a better look at what lies ahead. The city of Monaco is silhouetted against a moody evening sky. The reflections of boats and landscape can be seen reflected in the waters of Monaco’s harbour. Falcucci’s famous poster roster reads 2eme Grand Prix Automobile Monaco. 6 Avril 1930. The artist’s clever use of streaks of white pastel emanating from the wheels and body of the Mercedes conveys a real sense of speed. The SSKL’s engine produced 300 brake horsepower. It was capable of top speeds of 120 miles per hour (190 kph). It was the fastest car of its day.
The Monaco Grand Prix gets off to a great start
The now infamous street race at Monaco was the brainchild of the cigarette manufacturing magnate, Antony Noghès. At the time Noghés was also the President of the Automobile Club of Monaco and a close friend of the ruling Grimaldi family. The first race took place in 1929. The race was an instant success, exceeding all expectations and instantly gaining International fame.
The Monaco Grand Prix 1930
The now infamous street race at Monaco was the brainchild of the cigarette manufacturing magnate, Antony Noghès. At the time Noghés was also the President of the Automobile Club of Monaco and a close friend of the ruling Grimaldi family. The first race took place in 1929. The race was an instant success, exceeding all expectations and instantly gaining International fame.
For the 2nd Monaco Grand Prix expectations were high, and the air was palpable. Could the second event possibly live up to the success of the first? In the early hours of Sunday 6th April 1930, crowds of spectators came flocking to the circuit. They were eager to see the race and cheer on their favourite drivers. The Grandstand, terraces and mountain slopes were filled with a multitude of people, assembled to watch the race. As were the windows and rooftops of official buildings, and hotels that lined the race circuit.official building and hotel windows and rooftops that lined the race circuit. An estimated crowd of 100,000 spectators had turned up to experience the spectacle.
The race got underway at 1.07 pm on a slightly overcast Sunday afternoon in early April. Chiron immediately took the lead going up the hill towards the Casino, with Williams, Stuber, Borzacchini and the rest of the field giving chase. On lap two Chiron broke the lap record on the following lap with 2m13s, a sign of his intent to win.
On lap 14 Borzacchini hit a wall in his Maserati. He wasn’t injured but the damaged Maserati remained there for the rest of the race. On lap 15 Williams had serious problems with his engine and fell continuously further behind. Chiron was going from strength to strength resisting another fastest lap with time of 2m10s. After lap 20 Chiron was still in the lead with Bouriat and Dreyfus now in second and third places.
By lap 60, Dreyfus had reduced Chiron’s lead to 1m 25s and was gaining around two seconds per lap. It seemed Chiron was going to be the winner. On lap 72 he even established another new lap record in 2m08s. On lap 80 Chiron’s team signalled him to enter the pits for a refuel. The pitstop was carried out in 50 seconds. But it was enough time for Dreyfus to close the gap. There were now just ten seconds between the two cars. Being able to see Chiron in front of him gave him the impetus to try to catch him.
Dreyfus’s Bugatti T35 was a 2.3 litre compared to Chiron’s Type 35 C, 2-litre car. In addition, Chiron’s car was now carrying a heavier fuel load. Dreyfus got faster with each lap. Chiron had developed problems with his accelerator and was losing time. As Chiron accelerated out of the Gasometer hairpin, Dreyfus spotted that the race leader was in trouble. Smelling blood, Dreyfus mercilessly pressed on. He took the lead on lap 85. To rub salt in the wound on lap 88 Dreyfus beat Chiron’s lap record with a new time of 2m07s lap at a speed of 90.142 km/h. Dreyfus was unable to shake off Chiron who clung close to his tail. As much as Chiron tried, his car, with the throttle stop now broken off, he just wasn’t able to keep up with the Dreyfus Bugatti.
Dreyfus had begun to experience problems. His goggles had become so dirty with soot and oil spray that his vision was seriously impaired. His palms were blistered, bloody and painful but by lap 95 Dreyfus had increased his advantage to 10 seconds. Dreyfus crossed the finish line to enormous applause after 3h 41m 02s at an average of 86.317 km/h. A disappointed Chiron finished 22 seconds later. The race continued for the four remaining cars in the field to finish.
This account of events could not have been written without access to the highly detailed and sterling work of Hans Etzrodt on the kolumbus.fi website. if you would like more information on the 1932 Monaco Grand Prix, I strongly recommend you read his report in full.
Le Grand Prix De Monaco 1930
For three consecutive years, Falcucci was the go-to artist for creating the annual Monaco Grand Prix poster. The poster featured on this listing is actually the earliest of all the Monaco motor racing posters to include an image. It was produced to promote the 2nd edition of the Monaco Grand Prix which was officially known as II Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco. The vintage Grand Prix poster was created by the French illustrator and poster artist Robert Falcucci.
The 1930 Monaco Grand Prix results
The race was made up of cars from three manufacturers. Alfa Romeo was represented by Philippe Étancelin, Giuseppe Campari, Baconin Borzacchini, Tazio Nuvolari, Rudolf Caracciola and Goffredo Zehender. Bugatti fielded eight drivers, William Grover-Williams, Stanislas Czaikowski, Louis Chiron, Marcel Lehoux, Guy Bouriat, Earl Howe, Achille Varzi, and Albert Divo. Maserati entered three drivers, Arialdo Ruggeri, René Dreyfus, and Luigi Fagioli. A regular who’s who of the top drivers of the era.
Of the seventeen cars that started the race, just ten made it to the chequered flag. The winner of the 318km race was the Italian racing driver Tazio Nuvolari. He completed the 100 laps in his Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3 S-8 in a time of 3h 32m 25s at an average race speed of 55.8mph. Second place was taken by the German racing driver Rudolf Caracciola. Third place went to Luigi Fagioli in his Maserati 8C 2800 just two minutes after Nuvolari.
Before retiring from the race Achille Varzi had produced the fastest lap of the race when on lap 19 he achieved a time of 2m 2s, averaging 58.3mph.
Other Monaco Grand Prix Posters
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most captivating races in all motorsport, with drivers from around the world coming to compete for victory. The intense, high-speed races between cars at Monaco have captivated drivers and motorsport fans the world over. The Mediterranean city with its diverse landscape Monaco offers the perfect backdrop to its motor racing posters. Pristine mountains, sea views, steep cliffs, winding city streets, and the harbour have all been featured on Monaco Grand Prix posters over the decades. And that’s just the scenery! Add into the mix, dynamic and dramatic images of some of the world’s best sports cars, including Ferrari, Bugatti, Mercedes Benz and Maserati, and you can’t go wrong.
There’s something about motorsports that just gets the blood pumping. Maybe it’s the roar of the engines, the speed of the cars or the thrill of the race. Whatever it is, motor sports have always been a popular spectator sport. It has been the challenge of many artists over the years to capture the glamour and excitement of the race in their designs. Over the years many posters have coveted the chance to produce a poster for the prestigious street race. Artists that at one time or another took the top spot on the winner’s podium for Monaco Grand Prix poster design include Robert Falcucci, Geo Ham, B Minne, Alain Giampaoli, J May, J Ramel, Michael Turner, and Rene Lorenzo.
How much are original Monaco Grand Prix Posters worth?
This is a rare, highly sought-after, historic poster from a legendary era in motorsport! Original lithographic prints of many of the early race posters have become incredibly hard to find. They weren’t intending to be kept. usually printed in low quantities, most were stapled to trees or glued to fences, but some survive and now change hands for thousands of pounds. An original copy of this 1932 Robert Falcucci poster was put up for auction way back in 2022 with a guide price of between £10,000-£12,500. It exceeded expectations realising almost £16,250.
Of course, if you can find an original copy and can afford to buy it, you’re on to a winner. There’s nothing like owning an original vintage poster and they often make a great investment. Chances are in just a few years you’ll be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. Unfortunately, for most of us, an investment, even at the entry-level prices of the collectable poster isn’t even close to being a possibility.
This is where our stunning high-quality reproductions come into their own. They cost a fraction of an original, for example, our high-quality 50x70cm reproduction print of this Monaco 1933 Grand Prix poster is available on this listing priced at just £14. This is a stunning Grand Prix Motor Racing poster and looks incredible framed and mounted on the wall.
Whilst we don’t claim to be able to offer all the Monaco Grand Prix posters to you (yet!), we do currently have almost fifty Grand Prix or Monaco-related posters available. You can see them here. We also have half a dozen or so other Robert Falcucci posters to see here.
Our reproduction Monaco prints are a great way to display impossible-to-find posters. They’re perfect for the wall and collection of any Grand Prix lover with a strong sense of style! With so many different designs to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect one for your home or office. So don’t wait any longer, add a little bit of motor racing history to your home decor. Get your engine started, and order yours today!
