1899 De Dion Bouton Vis a Vis Type D - VCC Dated
Registration No. BS8599
Chassis No. 85
Engine No. 381
VCC Dating Certificate No. 4028
‘A 127 year old, Victorian motorcar’
£69500 GBP
Following experiments with various prototypes in late 1898 and the early part of 1899, De Dion Bouton commenced production of its rear engined voiturettes in late 1899, following type approval in September 1899. The vehicles produced for the first 6 months were known as the ‘Type D’ and all carried vis-a-vis coach built bodies and water cooled 3.5HP engines. Other features included ball bearing rear wheel hubs, an unsprung rear axle (although three quarter elliptical springs were an option) and gear change via a small wheel beneath the steering handlebars.
Type D models can also be distinguished by their horizontal exhaust ports and lack of rear wheel brake bands. In March 1900 the ‘Type E’ was launched which added rear wheel brakes and the wheel type gear changing system was replaced with a lever.
The example shown here today is a beautiful example of an early 1899 Type D, featuring the wheel style gear change. Supplied new in 1899 by De Dion agents of Florence, Ettore Nagliati, the car was sold to a doctor in the province of Ctenza, the car was to be the 2nd ever registered in that province.
The next chapter of Engine 381’s life is unknown like many cars from this era, however it surfaced in 1964 when it was given to the National Motor Museum of Turin, where it remained for 2 years before being sold to the Monza Motor Museum in 1966. The car remained in museum ownership at Monza until 1972 when it was sold at auction by RM Sothebys. Interestingly the car was to remain in Turin, as it was at this auction that the car was purchased by Mr Mirko Rondelli and Mrs Ballaira Lucia, both residing in Turin, Italy. 381 stayed with Rondelli & Lucia for some 40 years and was used regularly, inbetween once again being displayed at the Turin Motor Museum. It was from this long term ownership that the car was purchased by the current custodian in 2013, a current ownership of 13 years that has seen the car compete in the London to Brighton Veteran Car run on numerous occasions.
Dated in 2018 by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain as an excellent example of an early 1899 Type D, engine number 381 is now ready for a new chapter and ownership. The car appears with a nice mixture of patina and useability, but will require some light recommissioning as is always the case. Victorian cars at this price point are extremely rare to find and this example offers early London to Brighton starting, within the first 40 cars at Hyde Park as well as eligibility for various other pre 1900 events across Europe.
