The world’s oldest running motorcar, a 1884 de Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, has exceeded all expectations and sold for a stunning $4.62 million at RM Auctions’ Hershey, Pennsylvania sale.
Historic 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, spurs a bidding war in the auction room, selling for a remarkable $4,620,000 including buyers' premium - a new world record for an early motor car sold at auction!
As you may recall from past storythe 127-years old De Dion Bouton is a steam-powered car that also happens to be the oldest vehicle in the world… at least that still in running condition. It was originally built for the French entrepreneur the Count de Dion by the engineers Georges Bouton and Charles-Armand Trepardoux. Named La Marquise after the count’s mother, the quadricycle had only been through four owners.
It was restored in the late 1980s by the U.K. veteran car enthusiast Tim Moore who raced it four times in the annual London-to-Brighton run. Moore sold the vehicle in 2007.
The steam-driven 1884 De Dion, capable of 37 miles per hour on a straight, was the most highly valued of 115 cars being offered by RM Auctions at Hershey on Oct. 6-7. The vehicle drew a standing ovation from the audience as it drove onto the auction stage. Attracting a starting bid of $500,000 and immediately jumping to $1,000,000, bidding moved swiftly to applause from the crowd, with the gavel eventually falling at an extraordinary $4,200,000. The final sales price of $4,620,000 includes 10% buyers premium.
RM Auctions’ Chairman and founder, Rob Myers, was understandably delighted with the result and the interest the car attracted, commenting: The world’s leading automotive collectors recognised the incredibly rare opportunity the sale represented, as was reflected in the spirited bidding and impressive result.
Also, at the same auction, a sole surviving 1907 Baker Model M Roadster, a rare example of the fastest electric vehicle on the market, attracts strong interest from collectors, exceeding its estimate to sell for an impressive $112,500 hammer price; 1930 Cord L-29 Boat-tail Speedster selling for $150,000 and a very rare early Mercedes motor car –1912 Mercedes 28/50 PS Town Car, achieving $230,000.
The World's Oldest Running Motorcar 1884 de Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout
1907 Baker Model M Roadster sells for an impressive $112,500 hammer price
1930 Cord L-29 Boat-tail Speedster sells for $150,000 hammer price
1912 Mercedes 28/50 PS Town Car sells for $230,000 hammer price
The World's Oldest Running Motorcar 1884 de Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout
The World's Oldest Running Motorcar 1884 de Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout
