1901 De Dion Bouton Voiturette Type G Victoria

1901 De Dion Bouton Voiturette Type G Victoria

Marquis Albert De Dion was an industrialist and automotive genius. He pioneered many 'firsts' for the automotive industry and recognized the power and potential of the gasoline engine. He teamed with Georges Bouton, an engineer, and together they produced a self-propelled steam vehicle in 1882. To improve the ride of the vehicle a light rear axle was invented and later patented under the name 'de Dion'. In 1890 they patented a gasoline single cylinder engine and in 1895 they were producing vehicles. The single cylinder engine was also used to power sporting tricycles until 1901.

In 1985 De Dion created the first automobile club and in 1898 organized an auto show in Paris, the first auto show the world had ever seen. By the close of the 1890's, the 3.5 horsepower rear-engined petite voiture had become the world's first series-production small car.

Over 150 various motorcycle and automobile manufacturers bought licenses to build the Bouton and De Dion engine. By 1900 De Dion and Bouton was the world's largest maker of automobiles with annual production of 400 cars and 3,200 engines. By 1904 De Dion had supplied over 40,000 engines produced by their Puteaux facility.

In 1902 a 6 horsepower engine appeared still being placed behind the driver and powering the rear wheels. It used a two-speed expanding clutch transmission. An 8 horsepower engine was later introduced, placed under a hood in front of the vehicle and dubbed the Model K.

Following the success of its tricycles and quadricycles, the De Dion-Bouton company introduced a new generation of four-wheeled vehicles in 1899 with a rear-mounted engine driving the rear wheels via a train of gears. With the new car came the renowned De Dion rear axle, which would find favour with many makes over the years. Originally powered by a 3.5hp engine, it was upgraded with a 4.5hp in 1900 and this example has the latter power unit.

Descriptions & pictures by conceptcarz & bonhams & auto-veteran