Complete Description
- Very rare model, the first version of the De Dion vis-à-vis
- Eligible for, and a previous entrant in the London to Brighton Run
- With the same family for 60 years
- No reserve
This De Dion Bouton vis-à-vis is especially interesting as it is a Type D, the oldest and most sought-after model. Naturally, it is eligible for the famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, in which it took part in November 2008.
An extremely detailed valuation report from 2019 prepared by Mario Montanaro, a specialist in cars from this period, provides details of its history and chassis numbers, and we invite interested buyers to consult this. The car emerged from the shadows in the 1950s with an antique dealer from the Toulouse area, Mr Gréfeuille, who restored it to take part in local events. It was then laid up and passed on to the owner's daughter after he died in the 1980s. It was only in 2008 that it left this family from south-west France, when it was sold at auction. Its new owner recommissioned it in order to take part in the London to Brighton Run.
The car no longer has the plate with its chassis number screwed to the sill, but the various numbers which have been identified and an inspection of the car show some common modifications, no doubt made around 1907 (raked steering column and 4.5 HP rather than 3.5 HP engine). The engine number is that shown on the registration document. The car is otherwise largely original and represents a rare opportunity to buy a truly historic vehicle; a witness to the beginning of the century when the motorcar was in its infancy, it is eligible to enter one of the most famous events in the world. As the car was last used four years ago, it will need to be checked over and recommissioned.
