CLASSICS CHATTER AUCTION UPDATES: 1899

Friday, 25 October 2019

1899 Peugeot 2¼hp Tricycle - BONHAMS AUCTIONS London to Brighton Sale Friday 1st November 2019 New Bond Street Saleroom, London

https://www.classicchatter.co.uk/events-guide

FEATURED AUCTION

BONHAMS AUCTIONS

London to Brighton Sale

Friday 1st November 2019

New Bond Street Saleroom, London

1899 Peugeot 2¼hp Tricycle

Registration no. BS 8707

Chassis no. 290

*Rare early tricycle with original Peugeot two-speed gearbox

*Recent restoration by Gilbert Warning

*VCC dated

*Also eligible for De Dion Tricycle events

Formerly producers of tools, coffee mills, umbrella spikes and corsetry, Peugeot commenced its long-standing connection with transport in 1885 when it added cycle manufacture to its portfolio. Amongst the world's oldest surviving motor manufacturers, the company commenced car production in 1889 with a steam-powered tri-car but soon abandoned steam in favour of the internal combustion engine, building a succession of ever-larger automobiles before introducing the first of its famous Bébé light cars in 1900.

Before then, and in common with many of its European contemporaries, Peugeot had built tricycles powered by the ubiquitous De Dion Bouton single-cylinder engine. Engineer Georges Bouton's power units developed significantly greater output than those of rivals Daimler and Benz yet matched them for reliability. Small wonder then that De Dion Bouton engines were adopted by many other manufacturers of tricycles, quadricycles, and light cars, both in Europe and the United States, influenced no doubt by the success of the flying tricycles in such events as the Paris-Bordeaux and other endurance races. Early 137cc engines ran at speeds of up to 1,500rpm, while the 250cc engine of 1896 developed approximately 1¾hp and made the contemporary Benz engines seem positively antiquated.

The stunning early Peugeot tricycle offered here is powered by a single-cylinder De Dion engine rated at 2¼hp and is rare in retaining its original Peugeot two-speed gearbox. The tricycle has just been beautifully restored in Holland by Gilbert Warning, and 'before' and 'after' photographs were published earlier this year in the VCC Gazette's Dating section. Many such Veterans have been restored using lots of new parts and tubing, but the vendor wanted to emphasise this Peugeot's originality. Accordingly, this immaculate restoration was undertaken to retain as many original parts as possible, with some pitting to the frame tubes left before repainting to show the tubing's originality. As the rebuild has only recently competed, the engine requires running in. VCC dated, this delightful little Peugeot also qualifies for De Dion tricycle events on account of its De Dion engine. A De Dion tricycle carburettor is the only notified deviation from factory specification.

SOURCE: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25446/lot/309/

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Wednesday, 16 October 2019

c.1899 Bruneau Quadrilette - BONHAMS AUCTIONS London to Brighton Sale Friday 1st November 2019 New Bond Street Saleroom, London

https://www.classicchatter.co.uk/events-guide

FEATURED AUCTION

BONHAMS AUCTIONS

London to Brighton Sale

Friday 1st November 2019

New Bond Street Saleroom, London

c.1899 Bruneau Quadrilette

Registration no. not registered

Engine no. 1004

*Obscure French make

*Believed the sole survivor of only three made

*De Dion Bouton engine

*Three owners from new

Footnotes

Operating from premises at 12 Victor Hugo Street, Tours, Bruneau was an early manufacturer of motorcycles, tri-cars, and quadricycles and/or quadrilettes, it being believed that only three of the latter were constructed. Like many contemporary manufacturers, Bruneau used the ubiquitous De Dion Bouton engines for its products before partnering with Herdtlé to make Herdtlé-Bruneau proprietary engines and motorcycles from 1902 to 1913. Bruneau was later associated with Rochet.

This product of one of the more obscure French motor manufacturers of the fin-de-siècle period was sold new via Garage Gouard in Montrichard to a prominent citizen of Tours. It is powered by a single-cylinder De Dion Bouton engine, believed to be of 2¾ horsepower. Engineer Georges Bouton's power units developed significantly greater output than those of rivals Daimler and Benz yet matched them for reliability. Small wonder then that De Dion Bouton engines were adopted by many other manufacturers of tricycles, quadricycles and light cars, both in Europe and the United States, influenced no doubt by the success of the flying tricycles in such events as the Paris-Bordeaux and other endurance races. Early 137cc engines ran at speeds of up to 1,500rpm, while the 250cc engine of 1896 developed approximately 1¾hp and made the contemporary Benz engines seem positively antiquated.

The Bruneau remained in the original owner's family until the early 1960s when it was purchased by the immediately preceding owner. In 1995, the car took part in the centenary celebration of the famous Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race of 1895, an event accepted as the world's first motor race. The current vendor acquired the vehicle c.2015 in France. Very few examples of this charming little quadrilette were made and this is the only known survivor. Offered with a NOVA declaration.

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