"My mother was probably one of the last ones to drive the 1887 De Dion-Bouton & Trepardoux"
Jan 12 2021
This article was earlier published in the PreWarCar.com magazine.
The history of an old car is what often makes the car, but in this case it is both the car and the history that is brilliant! You might have heard about the very early De Dion-Bouton & Trepardoux, this is one of the first cars ever made and only a few are left. One went to the United States and was sold at an auction some years ago. The other one that we know is on display in the fantastic Louwman Museum in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Earlier this year at Vintage Revival Montlhéry, we met Mathieu. He told us the remarkable story of his grandmother and her De Dion-Bouton & Trepardoux. Yes, indeed! His family owned this 1887 steam quadricycle till they sold it to the museum.
We received the photographs and could not believe our eyes! How wonderful! Have a look at the amazing photographs from the family album. Mathieu wrote to us "I just can tell you that my mother was probably one of the last ones to drive the 1887 car, for presentation, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1957. She did not even have her driving licence yet!"
Words by the editor. Photographs sent in by Mathieu Planchon.