Go Get Your Diving Gear! (UPDATE IV: not IE, but ca. 1926 IW or IM)

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“My grandfather bought this De Dion-Bouton in the early 1930's as a used car,” writes Tony Haycock from New Zealand. Apparently the De Dion pulled a crowd every time it was parked in the street. However, Grandfather’s description of it was: “It looked good, but it was no bloody good at all.” Eventually he decided something more powerful was needed so the De Dion was traded on a1929 Hudson landau sedan, which was much more practical for the distances he covered. A year later, the dealer begged him to take the De Dion away but Grandfather said: “I don't want the useless bloody thing back". Finally the car sadly ended it's life in the Wanganui River, in the lower North Island of New Zealand. Who knows, it might still be lurking on the bottom? But before you pick up your diving gear, please do tell us what model and year this De Dion-Bouton is. Mail us!

Update IV by Tony Haycock: “Further to Hans Compters comments, the body on the De Dion was all aluminium, so I doubt it was New Zealand built, and it does not resemble and of the products of the local coachbuilders, so we think it is either French or English. The lack of park lights on the front mudguards would make me think more French than English. The other question raised is how on earth did it finish up in New Zealand. Up until WW1, de Dion was well represented here, but I have not seen any post WW1 de Dion here.”
UPDATE III by Hans Compter: "The long wheelbase of this car and longer body indicate that it is either a 10CV Type IW Long or a 12CV Type IM with 3.21m respectively 3.42m wheelbase. The IM with a 2485cc OHV engine was made from 1923 till 1926 and the long-wheel-base IW was still made in 1929. It would not be a 4 Litre Type JK or KS because the wheels are only 4-stud, nor could it be the older Type IE with these mid-Twenties Michelin discs and fat balloon tyres. The non factory (Victrix) made lighting and body style also indicate that the solid looking body was made either in England or in New Zealand, probably too heavy for a 12/28, 13/30 or 15/43HP De Dion Four and which explains the lack of performance. My educated guess is that we are looking at a circa 1926 2½ Litre OHV Type IM De Dion." Hans Compter
Update II by Leo Schildkamp: "I think it is a Type IW, as I restored one in the 1970's."
Update I by Stuart Penketh: "It looks like a 1922 De Dion-Bouton Model IE (click for old advert)."

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