JPG #233 Solved : 1923 De Dion Bouton Type HS/HT

[João]

For one point, please identify this car, the coachbuilder ( I do not know this part ) and the year.

[João]

Experts?

[Craig Gillingham]

This is a De Dion Bouton, from about 1923? I think, and possibly a V8? This car used to be in Australia, because I remember going to the auction that it was sold at in about 2000. The body I'm fairly sure would be Australian made, as it's rare to find an imported body on a car before WWII. There were tariffs on cars with imported bodies as a way to protect local body builders. So, I'd think it's an Australian body, but don't know the builder, or if the body is original to the car, or made more recently.

[João]

Correct! Locked for you to find more about the coachbuilder.

It's a nice looking titan.

[Craig Gillingham]

Correct! Locked for you to find more about the coachbuilder.

Thank you, I'll see what I can find. There were a couple of coachbuilders that made similar bodies on other cars, so I'll start looking there.

[Craig Gillingham]

You could unlock this one, as I can't find any references to coachbuilders here doing work on a 20's De Dion Bouton.

[João]

Ok, no problem.

Unlocked!

[João]

Pros?

[GrahamClayton]

James Flood body?

[João]

James Flood body?

If you can give me some proof, the point is yours.

[Craig Gillingham]

I've found out that this car is a four cylinder, and that the coachwork was made in the late 70's. Apparently there is a photo of the car under restoration in one of the James Flood books. I'll try and get a photo of that.

I think the coachwork is a replica of a Martin & King body that was on a Delage, that was at the Melbourne Motor show in 1926.

[Craig Gillingham]

This is the actual car, as it was being restored in the mid 70's. The text at the bottom says;

" Rare 1923 De Dion Bouton, 4 cylinder 94 x 140 m.m. (3969 c.c.) O.H.V."

This makes it a Type HS/HT, according to the bore & stroke, from the book French Cars from 1920 to 1925.

I can ask around to see who built the body. It certainly isn't original to the car, and was made in the late 70's. The car is still in Melbourne, but I haven't seen it for a long time. Also attached is a photo of the 1926 Delage with a Martin & King body, which I'm guessing was the influence for the rear boat tail design used for the De Dion.

[João]

Movin this one! The point goes to Craig, congrats!

[Craig Gillingham]

Thanks.