1901 De Dion Bouton 4.5HP Vis a Vis - VCC Dated - Exceptional Example

1901 De Dion Bouton 4.5HP Vis a Vis - VCC Dated. 

Registration No. Y107

Engine No. 6045

Chassis No. 984 

VCC Dating Certificate No. 1071

‘76 London to Brighton Veteran Car Runs’ 

‘5 Owners from New’ 

‘A complete history - new to the current day’

The first De Dion Bouton’s were of the ‘Vis a Vis’ type, with the occupants facing two by two. The engines varied in size from 1.25HP in 1896 through to 4.5HP by 1900/1901. These engines were all characterised by atmsopheric inlet valves and a mechanical exhaust valve with a range of carburettors, often supplied by Longuemare. They were known for their reliability and ease of maintenance, a quality attested by the number of engines that survive today. 

‘Y107’ is perhaps the most decorated and well presented of all 4.5HP Vis a Vis. Its story begins in February 1901 when the car was offered for sale by dealers Langport and Somerton Herald of Bridgewater Motor Company. It was this dealer based on East Quay, Bridgerwater that imported the car from France for consignment sale to the UK market. The car was purchased in April of that year by Mr John Wesley Carter and was to become the first car to ever be sold in Bridgewater. An image in the file shows an Autocar manuscript with an image of the car in April 1901. 

Fast forward to 1903 and cars were now in the process of being registered for road use and issued with registration numbers. It was at this time that ‘Y107’ was issued to a Mr John Wesley Carter for his 1901 De Dion Bouton Vis a Vis in Victoria Green, the car weighed 8 CWT and was intended for private use (copy of intial register in history file). In 1905 ‘Y107’ once again hit the headlines when a newspaper report was issued and stated a serious collision. The report states ‘A little girl was riding her bicycle in the road when a motor car approached driven by Mr Carter of Bridgewater, to avoid collision, he swerved and lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a lady with her bicycle named Miss Ada Hill, before continuing over the sea wall and somersaulting onto the stones. Both Miss Hill and Mr Carter were seriously injured and the car sustained significant damage but not as much as you would expect from such an event’. 

After the accident ‘Y107’ laid up for a period of time until Mr Carter recovered but it was then continued to be used as a daily driven vehicle until his health declined and he passed away in 1928. A newspaper article from 1924 states that Y107 was the oldest car in daily use in the country at this point. later it was purchased in the estate sale of Mr Carter in 1928, this sale is documented in a newspaper clipping in the history file. Mr CR Wason purchased the car, and it was he who entered the car in the 1928 addition of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run for the first time in the car’s history. Images in the file show Wason driving the car out of Hyde Park on the LTBVCR that year. 

It was in early 1932 that the car passed to its next keeper and it was in this prolific ownership that the car would be used to its full potential. Mr RC Porter purchased the car and used the car on some 23 London to Brighton runs, as well as competing in the ‘Old Crocks Handicap’ at Brooklands race track where it finished 3rd covering a 2.5 mile stretch in 3 minutes and 57 seconds. In Porters ownership Y107 saw some spectacular sights including being used on the 1946 London Motor Cavalcade and an image in the file shows the car driving past King George VI & Queen Elizabeth. 3 years earlier the car became a movie start for the first time with its appearance in the film ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp’. 

Next in 1966, Y107 was purchased by Peter Black who established The Yorkshire Car Collection. The Black family went on to complete a staggering 47 London to Brighton runs on Y107 and kept the car from 1966 until it was purchased by the current custodians in 2019. 

At the time of purchase in 2019, Y107 was showing its age and many hard years of use. NP Veteran Engineering were commissioned to take on the car and a significant amount of work, including rebuild to the Engine, Crank Pins, bearings, wheels, brakes and steering were all completed. This saw the car go onto complete many more events including LTB and back to back Yorkshire Veteran Car Runs. Y107 has currently been undertaking around 250 miles per year and is in excellent fettle. She will cruise at 25MPH, starts readily and is ready to use. 

We have sold many De Dion Boutons over the years, but this has to be a standout, it’s complete documented history, alongside fastidious maintenance schedule mean that this car is a true rarity. How many cars can boast the same history both within historical and competition circles? 76 London to Brighton Runs down, who will become its 6th owner in 125 years and tick off number 77!! 

£75,000 GBP.