1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Sells for £16 Million at Auction
The world’s oldest running car, an 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux steam vehicle, has changed hands at auction for £16 million, setting a new record for pre-20th-century automobiles.
An 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux, recognised as the oldest running car in the world, has been sold at auction for £16 million. The steam-powered vehicle, which predates the first cars built by Karl Benz and Henry Ford, drew international attention for both its provenance and the price achieved.
The De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux, sometimes referred to as "La Marquise" after the Count de Dion’s mother, was built in France in 1884. Its four-wheeled, steam-powered layout was a technical outlier in an era when most road vehicles were still horse-drawn. The car can reach a top speed of 38 mph (61 km/h), although operating it is a far cry from modern motoring: it requires around 45 minutes to build up steam before setting off, and runs on a mix of paper, wood and charcoal.
Only 20 examples were originally produced, and just six are known to have survived into the 21st century. This particular car has an extensive history, including a medal from the 1997 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it was recognised for its originality and condition. Its age means it was already on the road years before Henry Ford’s first car, and even predates Benz’s Patent-Motorwagen.
Auction sets new benchmark for early classics
The £16 million sale price eclipses previous records for pre-1900 vehicles. For comparison, some of the most valuable post-war classics, including the McLaren F1 and Ferrari 250 GTO, have achieved higher sums, but no other car from the dawn of motoring has come close. The De Dion’s value lies not only in its rarity and condition but also in its status as a running, operational vehicle, a distinction not all early survivors can claim.
The car’s new owner joins a very exclusive group. With only half a dozen surviving examples, and even fewer in running order, opportunities to acquire such a vehicle are rare. For collectors, the appeal is clear: the De Dion is a direct link to the earliest days of automotive engineering, and its public sale at this price cements its place in history.
What makes the De Dion unique
- Oldest running car in the world, built in 1884
- Steam-powered with a top speed of 38 mph
- Operates on paper, wood, and charcoal
- Only six known survivors from an original 20
- Awarded at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
The De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux’s design reflects a period of experimentation, before petrol engines became dominant. Its survival in running condition offers a rare glimpse into the formative years of motoring, and its auction result shows that the appetite for the most historic vehicles remains strong among collectors.
