1901 International Charette 6hp Single-Cylinder

Over the years there have been many motor manufacturers trading under the 'International' name, well over a dozen in the USA alone, but this British company is unusual in so far as it never built a car of its own. Founded in London in 1894, the International Motor Car Company assembled cars from proprietary components and sold those of European makes under its own name. One of its earliest offerings, the 'International-Benz', was in fact a French-built Roger. According to the Beaulieu Encyclopaedia: 'Single and 2-cylinder variations on the Benz theme were made up to 1901, later cars being bought from Germany when Emile Roger's business closed down.' International had its showroom in Great Portland Street and a service centre in Kilburn.

No doubt seeking to put themselves on a more secure commercial footing, International became a limited company in 1900 and commissioned a bespoke design of its own, the Charette light car, which was built for them by the Coventry-based firm of Allard. Introduced in November 1900, the Charette was powered by a front-mounted single-cylinder engine of De Dion type, which drove the rear wheels via belt. Steering was by means of rack-and-pinion, and both two- and three-speed versions were offered: early models rated at 5hp, later ones at 6hp. Unusually, all chassis were driven from Allard's Coventry works to London under their own power. Priced at £165, the Charette sold well for the three-or-so years it was offered, production ceasing after 1903. The company itself did not last much longer, and by 1905 had ceased trading.

This rare example of an obscure British make has been known to the Veteran Car Club from the latter's earliest days, its Dating Certificate being number '20'. It has taken part in the London-Brighton Run continuously since the 1930s and has featured in various books.

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