De Dion Bouton 3-1/2hp Type-E Vis-a-Vis Voiturette.
Bronwen kindly sent this old photograph over, showing her father driving a friend in a De Dion Bouton Voiturette, registration CD 97. A look online shows that this car is still taking part in the London to Brighton run, some 50+ years after this photograph was taken. Bronwen's father used to maintain this car on behalf of a customer. The car in the background is also a De Dion Bouton, registration AA 863, which is a 1904 6hp Rear Entrance Tonneau, again a member of the V.C.C. (Veteran Car Club).
The De Dion Bouton company started out supplying their engines to other companies for their own purposes, and used them in powered tricycles. The 3 1/2hp car, the Type D, first saw light of day in 1899. In 1900, the Type E was introduced, which still had the single cylinder 3.5hp engine, capacity 402cc, and introduced brakes on the rear axle. By this time the company had 950 employees, and was still rising. The engine on these cars is located under the driver's seat, driving the rear 'De Dion' axle.
Return to Old Vehicle Photos Page 6.
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