Beschrijving
This is lot number 153 in the Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting sale on April 14th 2024, please visit the Bonhams website for full details.
• Early history known
• Featured in Rare and Exciting Cars by Daphne Brampton
• Restored in the 1950s
• Considerable mechanical refurbishment in recent years
Inextricably linked with the motorcar's pioneering years, Messrs De Dion and Bouton began developing what was, in effect, the first high-speed internal combustion engine in the early 1890s. Engineer Bouton's power units developed significantly greater output than their contemporaries from Daimler and Benz yet matched them for reliability. Small wonder then that they were adopted by many other motor manufacturers, influenced no doubt by their success in endurance races. Early De Dions were rear-engined and of the vis-à-vis type but from 1902 the firm adopted what would become accepted as the conventional layout for a motorcar. By this time, De Dion's fast-revving, single-cylinder engines were offered in 4½hp, 6hp and 8hp variants and were noted for their reliability, which is borne out by the number surviving. The company's first twin-cylinder engine was introduced in 1903 and the first four in 1904. Today De Dion Bouton is by far the most popular London-Brighton Run marque, its cars being attractive, light in weight, simply constructed and a joy to drive.
This twin-cylinder De Dion 10hp Type AB was purchased by a Wiltshire farmer who used the car regularly for 20 years. Thereafter it deteriorated steadily and was in poor condition when purchased in the 1930s by Mr Bill Sanders, a motor dealer in Swindon, Wiltshire. When Mr Alfred Cooper of Swindon purchased the De Dion in 1938, it was a wreck. No serious attempt was made to restore the car until Alfred Cooper's eldest son John returned from Army service in the early 1950s.
Eventually all the necessary information and correct parts were obtained with the exception of the carburettor, a circa 1910 Claudel Hobson being used instead. The De Dion was restarted for the first time in some 30 years in August 1955. Mr Cooper went on to enter the De Dion in numerous Veteran Car Club events. It was subsequently put on display at the head office of Coopers Marshgate (Holdings) Ltd.
While owned by our vendor the De Dion has benefited from extensive mechanical refurbishment: in 2005 the engine was rebuilt (crank-shaft and connecting rods overhauled; bearings re-white metalled; big-end and mains bearings redone). In 2006 on a VCC rally, the De Dion was being overtaken by 1903 vehicles! The noisy gearbox was judged to be responsible. In 2007 the gearbox was stripped and rebuilt by Henal Engineering, and the wooden wheels stripped, rebuilt and repainted. Replacement tyres and inner tubes were fitted in 2008. In 2009 the De Dion was sent to The National Motor Museum's workshop at Beaulieu for various works, including replacing the automatic inlet valve spring and valve gaskets.
While the engine was being rebuilt in the 1950s, the crankshaft had needed to be straightened. On recommendation from the VCC, who thought the straightened crankshaft remained a weak point, a new improved crank was designed and installed in 2013 together with con-rods and pistons. In 2014 an optical timing system was installed to replace the non-original timing method fitted back in 1956. When the De Dion was first rebuilt in 1956, a 1912 Claudel-Hobson carburettor was fitted. Although starting easily enough, this carburettor does not allow for adjustment and is thought to be responsible for a certain lack of power when the engine is under load.
Offered with sundry bills, a VCC dating certificate, and a V5C.
