4 replies to this topic

[LotusElise]

Does anyone know if there are any De Dion-Bouton racing tricycles from the 1890s still extant?

 

And are any still running?

[Vitesse2]

I don't know whether it has any racing history, but if you have 56300 euros to spare there's one currently for sale on PreWarCar:

 

http://www.prewarcar...s/ad198864.html

[robert dick]

Early racing tricycles - until 1899/1900 - remained more or less similar to the production models.
In 1901, the racing tricycles began to use bigger engines, De Dion singles with dimensions up to 120 x 120 mm = 1,35 litre.

Specially prepared De Dion racing tricycles - as the one driven by Georges Osmont in August 1902 at Deauville (photos from the Bibliothèque Nationale/Paris):


or the "spéciale" for kilometer and hillclimb sprints, driven by Victor Rigal at Deauville and the Gaillon hillclimb/October 1902:

have not survived.

Rigal's special was powered by a 4.25-litre Buchet engine (2-cylinder, 130 x 160 mm) - good for 125 km/h/flying kilometer in 28 4/5 seconds at Deauville.
Osmont's De Dion covered the kilometer in 33 4/5 sec = 106 km/h.
(fastest time: Gabriel at the wheel of a Paris-Vienna Mors in 26 2/5 sec = 136 km/h)
 

[LotusElise]

Sorry, didn't mean to post and run on this one.

 

It's the earlier ones I'm interested in, the smaller-engined models from 1897-99. I'm writing something at the moment and I'd like to include some tech specs, but I haven't got any serial numbers or detailed information on the specific machines concerned, so it will have to be quite general. I'd like to see one in action, or photograph one myself.

[Allan Lupton]

Might be worth asking the de Dion Club

http://www.dedionboutonclub.co.uk/