1911 Delaunay-Belleville HB4 Tourer

1911 Delaunay-Belleville HB4 Tourer style of Roi des Belges

Just one hundred of these magnificent cars were built during the years 1911 to 1912 & only three are known to survive. This particular model is number 10 out of the first batch of 25 produced. The other known chassis are 3953 and 4302. This particular model was rescued from years of inactivity in a Dutch Museum which accounts for its remarkable state of preservation.

This car has over the last 7 years undergone a huge restoration to bring it to the condition we find it in today. The coachwork is a direct copy of that found on another HB6 model & is very Edwardian in appearance with its high back & rear Victoria pram hood.

The engine has had a major overhaul including stripping the valves. honing the bores. new pistons. work to the con rods. new little end bushes. big ends scraped & checked. new Gudgeon pins. etc etc. At the same time a classic oil pump was fitted raising the oil pressure from the factory spec of 5PSI up to around 20 PSI making for excellent lubrication. An electric starter is fitted for those lacking the moral fiber to start the car on the handle as its makers intended. As a result of the above work the engine is in tip top order starting readily & pulling strongly in all four gears through the excellent gear box. Reverse incidentally is found by going into first & then further forwards until reverse is found. Delage used a similar arrangement. New king pins have also been fitted making for reasonably direct steering.

Descriptions and pictures by bonhams & wikipedia & car-from-uk