1900 De Dion Bouton Type E Vis-à-Vis

485roadFrance

Engine: Single-cylinder, 402cc, ~3.5 hp, rear-mounted with two-speed constant-mesh transmission
Colour: Burgundy with black accents and fenders, red wire wheels

A De Dion, Bouton & Compagnie Type E Vis-à-Vis Voiturette built in Paris in 1900 and subsequently exported to the United States. Powered by a rear-mounted single-cylinder engine of approximately 402 cc, the Type E was an advancement over the Type D, featuring improved wheel bearings, dual band brakes, and a revised gear-change mechanism. This example retains its original Paris dealer medallion from G. Loisel and was restored in burgundy and black. Its pre-1905 build date makes it eligible for the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$121,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknown
L.K. Newell
partial documentation
Based in Quapaw, Oklahoma; no dates or acquisition details provided.
Date unknown
Robert Gottlieb
partial documentation
Collector and journalist based in Beverly Hills, California; had the car restored by Eric Rosenau of Ramona, California, in a burgundy and black livery with red wire wheels.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—Restoration
Eric Rosenau
Full cosmetic restoration carried out in burgundy bodywork with black accents and fenders, red wire wheels, and black leather seating. Brass accessories including Mauretania headlamps were polished, and all mechanical elements were carefully detailed.
Restorer based in Ramona, California; work commissioned during Robert Gottlieb's ownership.

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