Posted on 06/28/2007 3:01:48 PM PDT by Daffynition
The world’s oldest running car is set to cross the auction block at Pebble Beach in August.
The catchy-sounding De Dion-Bouton et Trapardoux was built in France in 1884, and amazingly, it’s a three owner car. Among its many credentials, “La Marquise” is a steam-powered four-wheeled car that is believed to have won the first automobile race.
Top speed on the car is a startlingly high 38 miles-per-hour, which must feel decidedly exciting given its primitive construction and solid rubber tires. To reach that heady speed, drivers need to first stoke the car with coal, wood, paper, or other readily combustible materials, and then wait for around a half-hour to generate enough steam for the car to get rolling.
The De Dion-Bouton et Trapardoux is expected to hammer for between $1.5 and $2 million.
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Steam brakes? They must have used metal or protected hoses . . .
If you ever post progress pics, please ping me. Good luck!
Here's my own current project, my family's 1924 Dodge Brothers Business Coupe. Just got it running after 64 years of being parked in an old barn but I still have a lot of work ahead of me. 
What a glorious project! I love it! Is that a rumble seat?
No rumble seat. In fact, when I got the car the trunk lid had been removed and a small wooden truck bed had been installed. During the 1930s/40s the car was used in a family custom combining business to carry a 55-gallon drum of gasoline for the trucks, tractors and combines as the men traveled from west Texas to the Canadian border with the wheat harvest. However, the original trunk lid and hinges were found intact in the same old west Texas barn where the car has been stored since 1943.
The new tires I just installed on the car proved to be real task when I tried locating the correct carriage bolts for the rear wheels. And when I say “I”, I mean I installed the tires with tire irons, a rim squeezer, and a little bit of courage. None of the local tire companies wanted anything to do with the wooden wheels, nor did they have the correct tools. I’m now working on rebuilding the old vacuum canister that delivers gas to the motor from the tank. Lots of work but lots of fun, especially when that old four-banger “busted” to life after so many years. Nothing is quite as rewarding. Plans include new paint and new interior but this will take some time.
Devolve, this will interest you - but - can you read it without posting cars, lolol??
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Nice project car
My older brother’s first car was a 1931 Model A Ford Roadster with stock 21” wire wheels and 4 16” later wire wheels - easier then in HS to find El Cheapo 16” tires
We found an original rear rumble seat alongside the dirt road at 7 Bridges where some early Dracula flicks were filmed
Made a bottom rumble seat frame of 2x4s and fiited a cushion as our younger sister would ride in the rumble seat on the way to school if it was not raining
Trunk weekly carried cattle and chicken feed and the old skinny 21” & 16” tires were actually quite good on dry sand roads going out after HS to feed the horses and cattle until the county paved the road with compacted coral rock
Old 1924 Dodge must be rough finding parts for
Wooden wheels
Amazing condition
Hand mounting tires is an art
Wooden wheels, that is amazing to see!
My older brother had a ‘34 Ford roadster with a rumble seat when he went into the Air Force in 1955. He was 16 years old (joined illegally) and I was 6.
Actually, the tires, tubes and flaps on the old DB coupe were pretty simple to install using a Master Rim Tool (looks like an old egg-beater). This tool squeezes the split rims so that the tire fits over the rim. I found two of these tools among all the parts that were with the old car. It just took some figuring out how to use them. The removal of the very hardened old tires, tubes and flaps were the most difficult part of the job.
Locating parts for the coupe has been difficult but not impossible. Some are costly, others are not. The ignition key set me back $85 because these cars had pre-cut keys issued by a now-defunct key manufacturer. As a family car, most of the parts were present when I got the car, right down to the leather interior and ah-ooh-gah horn. I have one external door handle (pot metal) that requires replacement and these are $110 each. It’s a money pit to be sure, but it has been a lot of fun and will be a lot more when my grandchildren get to ride in it.
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I set up and managed vehicle repair & tire businesses in NYC, CT, NC, FL
We had a supercharged Boat-Tailed Auburn Roadster we had an obsolete water pump remade, a DeTomaso Mangusta with a broken fron spring that did not seem to get shipped from Italy so I matched up a set of slightly heavier Ferrari front spring that fit on the Koni front coilover shocks (and cured the deadly sudden oversteer of DeTamaso cars!), 50s T-Birds & ‘Vettes, etc
I had to teach new shop workers how to change semi truck tires by hand for road service and shop changes - I modified our automatic tire machines myself so the worked better and faster and so they would nut break, crack, distort, of scratch magnesium or aluminum racing or street wheels (all of the factory tire machine springs are dangerous junk springs and there are excellent surplus aircraft springs that will replace them and last forever - just not plated shiny and cutesy - plating causes dangerous imbrittlement in many parts)
We built up a TR3 engine to 3 liters in Florida using Ferguson tractor engine sleeves and some modified pistons from a 121ci engine - It had unreal torque on the street and with a much modified cylinder head and a Crane camshaft was only slightly SCCA illegal
$120 for a door handle - Wow!
Antique parts dealers and boneyards have you on a rare Dodge
Old Model A stuff is even made today - So may rolling out there
Model A Sedans make some great long trip cars if you copy some of the best California street rods - use a Chevy SM and an AT (easier on drive train too) I’ve seen some with the modified front axle that rode and handled right up with many hot sports cars
Great car you have there
We have antique car shows in our south Texas area town all the time. Popular and expensive hobby!
When you travel into Mexico, DODGE is THE car or truck you see everywhere.
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Expensive for some parts and lots of time
But many use these as everyday street pleasure or even commuting cars like I used to
Initial purchase price is often very low and experience and creativity gets them rolling and maintained pretty fast
Boneyards are sources of many parts and car pros or buffs usually know junkyard operators well and often exchange parts with them which cuts costs for them and the boneyard dealer makes a nice profit on a part he did not have to sell before
Also these vehicles are maintained very well and repairs and parts done themselves or in trade with others
Length of time the vehicle is kept compared to most expensive plain brown wrapper new or used cars ismuch longer and the vehicles increase in value while a new car drops like a stone and is rarely a fun car to drive and own
Like a cherry Lincoln Continental Mark II classic for instance in great running shape with a fantastic paint job - and body
Oh yes, these guys guard their cars at the shows. It’s look but don’t touch, I think.
Some are left to sit in garages for long periods of time too, lol.
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I like street useable cars
A 100% perfect car to me if not driven is like an object in a locked glass case
Most very old cars were hand-brush painted and even the original paint finish is worth more on an original vehicle than one sanded, primed, and sprayed to a perfect finish that was never on that year and model car when it was built
I can buff out or touch up a scratch - I’m not that picky
I ant a car to perform great, handle much better than stock, ride like a cloud
I don’t ask for much do I?
[I don’t ask for much do I?]
No, not much!! Lol
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heh
heh
heh
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