This is the incredibly rare 1903 De Dion-Bouton (engine number 447). De Dion-Bouton was founded 141 years ago in 1883 by French automobile industry pioneer Marquis Jules Félix Philippe Albert de Dion de Wandonne, French toymaker and engineer, Georges Tradée Bouton, and Bouton’s brother-in-law, Charles Trépardoux as Trépardoux et Cie. When Jules-Albert de Dion paid a visit to a toy store in Léon, France back in 1881, he was intrigued by a steam engine locomotive model in the window. After inquiring about possibly having one built for himself, it was de Dion’s passion for steam-powered engines and ample money to invest combined with Bouton and Trépardoux’s desire to build an automobile that would result in the formation of the De Dion-Bouton company, which in the year 1883 was known as De Dion, Bouton et Trépardoux. After first starting out with an attempt to create steam engines for boats, the company’s first ever car built unfortunately burnt to the ground during testing. A second steam-engined vehicle was constructed in 1884 and is known to be one of the world’s oldest running automobiles today, La Marquise. Sensing the changing times, by 1889 the focused was shifted to developing internal combustion engines. This led to Trépardoux, who strongly supported steam engines, to resign from the company in 1894, and the name then became De Dion, Bouton et Compagnie. By the the year 1900, the company quickly became known as one of the largest automobile manufacturers around for a short period of time. Around this time, the company produced a line of tricycles and four-wheelers powered by a 402 cc (24.5 cu in) single-cylinder engine, and the car shown here is one of them. This very rare early de Dion automobile is finished in an attractive shade of pale yellow over black tufted upholstery, and is equipped with eye-catching yellow 12-spoke wood wheels, a woodgrain dash panel, and distinctive sloped front-hood.
How many made? Fewer than 100 exist today
Engine: 402-cc single-cylinder
Debut: n/a
Top speed: n/a
0-60mph: n/a
Photo Credit: @am_media_ny, @rmsothebys
Research: @rarecarsonly