De Dion-Bouton La Marquise

In 1884, Count Albert de Dion teamed up with two talented mechanics, Georges Bouton and Charles Trépardoux, to build a steam vehicle. He named it La Marquise, in honour of his mother.

This steam quadricycle had a boiler fired with coal, wood and paper, which took nearly three quarters of an hour to build up pressure. Once under way, it could carry four people and approach 60 km/h. In 1887, it was the only vehicle at the start of what is regarded as the first motor race, between Neuilly and Versailles: it therefore won the race unopposed.

La Marquise is now regarded as the oldest car in the world still in running order. It has taken part several times in the London to Brighton run. Sold at auction in 2011 for more than 4.6 million dollars, it bears witness to the beginnings of De Dion-Bouton, which a few years later would become the world’s largest car manufacturer.