1903 Darracq Twin Cylinder 12HP Rear Entrance Tonneau
Reg No. D241
Chassis No. 3753
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High quality French Marque
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Well maintained example
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Powerful 12HP Brighton runner
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Extensively tourer and recognised motorcar
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Electric starting
£190,000 GBP
Alexandre Darracq, of Bordeaux was pivotal in the bicycle industry in the late 1890s and it was the sale of his Gladiator Bicycle company to Dunlop that funded the start of Darracq motor vehicles.
In 1903, the company was purchased by a consortium of British Investors, although Mr Darracq remained at the head of the table, managing director. 1903 saw the introduction of the twin cylinder 12HP model H, described as ‘perfectly silent and smooth running’. The car featured mechanically operated valves in a T Head formation which was thought to provide added power output.
Although ‘D241’ has an uncertain early history, we can see from a copy of a sales ledger that the car was purchased by a Mr John G Hay from a Mr C Gilliam Esq for the sun of £4. The car was dated in 1953 by the VCC of Great Britain. The car was resubmitted some years later for dating by Mr Robert Jardine in 1994, at which point a date of 1903 was established and it was dubbed a ‘Genevieve-Type Darracq’.
Since the mid 1990s, ‘D241’ has been very extensively toured and rallied on VCC Events, London to Brighton Runs and European rallies. In 2000, the car successfully completed the reenactment of the 1,000 mile trial and also completed the reenactment of the Paris-Vienna Race. On top of these demanding tests of quality, the car completed The Gordon Bennett Reenactment at Clermont-Ferrand in 2005, The Paris-Bordeaux Race in 2007 and on almost every London to Brighton Run to the current day. The car was well known for its 20 year stay with VCC stalwart Bill Elam, who used the car on many events and it was famed for its reliability.
‘D241’ has been well maintained by the current custodian who has entrusted the services of NP Veteran Engineering with its regular servicing. The car completed London to Brighton 2024 and has just completed the Yorkshire Veteran Car Run, a trip consisting of almost 200 miles. The car is now offered for sale with V5C Documentation, VCC Dating Certificate and History file.
For further information please contact Tom Parrott on 07562526196 or alternatively via email - tomparrottveteran@gmail.com
