Monday mystery: a French torpédo with a concours crowd

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We found this picture labelled “Dion Bouton during the 1903 car competition with participants,” and that sounds like total nonsense to us. Well, the date does, at least. The car could very well be a De Dion-Bouton, and as a matter of fact it reminds us of that De Dion described by Roald Dahl in his lovely book Boy (about which we wrote last year). That particular car was described as a tourer or torpedo with dual windscreen. This one doesn’t seem to have that particular luxury accessory, but otherwise it does not look dissimilar.

Reader David Grimstead responded with the comment which placed the Dahl De Dion under probably unprecedented scrutiny, in which he looked at just about every aspect of the car according to the description given by the late author. Mr. Grimstead dated it circa 1925, which may well be correct for this car, too. Or could it be slightly earlier? We have a feeling the picture was taken in the Netherlands and the flag seen behind looks as if it might confirm that. Was it at a concours? The ladies and gentleman are certainly appropriately dressed for a prestigious gathering.

We found that one such event took place in Zandvoort in 1926, when De Dion-Boutons won several prizes and the marque's Dutch importer proudly referenced the victories in his advertisements. A two-seater with dickey-seat from a Mrs. Fels of Arnhem won Class I of the Concours d’élégance while a similar car owned by a Mr. Lotsy of Dordrecht won Class I of the Concours de Carrosserie. The winner of Class Q of the Carrosserie would seem to describe our pictured car best; it was won by a De Dion-Bouton all-weather six-seater. Could this be the one?

A small plaque can be seen behind the horn on the car’s side just in front of the passenger door. A coachbuilder’s plate, surely—but which one?

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: source unknown

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