Series: 10 hp, 18, 25 hp, 6 hp, 8 hp, Doctor's

About De Dion Bouton

De Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1932. The company was founded by Comte Albert de Dion (1856-1946), Georges Bouton (1847-1938) and his brother in law Charles Trépardoux. Bouton and Trépardoux had been making small steam engines and toys when they met de Dion who offered to go into partnership with them forming De Dion, Bouton et Trépardoux in Paris in 1883.

Steam cars

By the end of 1883 the new company had made an improved boiler for small boats and also fitted one to a steam-powered automobile. This had the boiler and engine mounted at the front driving the front wheels through belts and rear wheel steering. An improved vehicle, the La Marquise, was made in 1884 with front wheel steering and rear wheel drive and seats for four people. The vehicle still exists in road worthy condition and has been a regular entry in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Two more cars were made in 1885 followed by a series of lightweight two cylinder tricars, which from 1892 had Michelin pneumatic tyres. In 1893 steam tractors were introduced which were designed to tow horse type carriages for passengers or freight (sometimes called "steam drags") and these used an innovative axle design which would become known as the de Dion tube (though it might more fairly be called the Bouton axle), where the location and drive function of the axle are separated. The company manufactured steam buses and trucks until 1904. Trepardoux resigned in 1894 as the company turned to petrol (internal combustion) vehicles.

Internal Combustion Engine cars

Read more...