1903 Dedion Bouton 6hp 2 seater

A beautiful 1903 Dedion Bouton VSC dated. plaque No. 498.

The car has completed the London to Brighton run over 20 times with the earliest known being 1954 & the last being 2015. A plethora of certificates & finisher medals come with the car attesting to its constancy. The car was also recently in 2011 displayed at the Grand Palais in Paris; an appropriate setting given that the building opened in 1900.

Hearsay relates that the car resided in the Cheshire region in its early life & was resued by a cycle builder after the first war. In the 1940's it was found hanging in some rafters in a barn in Yorkshire & after some recommissioning did the 1954 run. A picture book comes with the car detailing some of the runs. There is also a bill for £2607. 00 from Arthur Archer; the noted veteran specialist. More recently considerable more expenditure has been undertaken by the current owner to keep the car in tip top fettle.

On its day of arrival at the showroom by truck we turned on the fuel. primed the caburettor & pulled the motor though three times on the starting handle. After prudently retarding the ignition & putting the ignition to Marche. the car started instantly on the 4th pull. After a brief warm up period I then drove the car 4 miles or so to our local photographing site. It chuffed up two not inconsiderable hills in first. attained quite a lick in second gear on the flat & had to be held back on the decelerator when going down hill.

The orginal body woodwork has recently been revarnished. Seating arrangamets are a comfortable back leather bolster for two. or possibly an adult & 2 children. A black canvas hood erects easily & provides a modicum of wether protection for ensuing London to Brighton Monsoons. (last year excepted. ) The engine bay is particularly tidy.

Twin brass oil lamps are fitted up front along with a brass parp parp style bulb operated horn of sonorous note. Newfangled LED lights are fitted front & rear. but we rather hope the new owner tears them asunder as we have no truck with such modern contraptions.

The car sits on four excellent wooden artillery wheels that appear to be of newer origin. A useful storage area is located in the back containing a good selection of tools & spares including an easily fitted new atmospheric valve. We know not what the speeds nor temperaturs reached were due to the utter lack of instrumentation. On the plus side the car never boiled. ran at about 20 MPH which feels like 120MPH down hill & emitted a comforting blue trail of smoke after deployment of the engine oiler pump. recourse to which is best left to down hill sections to avoid oiling the plug.

These are simple cars to own. operate & drive. The gears clealy have recently had attention as they engage instantly with no slop or slip whatsoever & are very positive in their operation. This will make a great starter car for a first timer. or a reliable mount for those with multiple runs/breakdowns under their belt.

More pictures may be viewed on our website at http://www. vandp. net

Office 01375 379719
Paul 07955 588019
Richard Biddulph 07967 260673

We accept Credit/Debit Cards.
Part Exchange welcome.
Weekend & evening viewings OK.
Viewings by appointment :

Prestige House.
9 Globe Industrial Estate. br/>Grays. Essex. RM17 6ST

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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