Description
The De Dion-Bouton 12 HP Phaeton was a refined and capable touring car produced during the 1910s, a period in which De Dion-Bouton was transitioning from its dominance in small, lightweight vehicles to producing larger and more powerful automobiles for private and professional use. This model combined the company’s mechanical reliability with a stylish open-body design, aimed at the growing market of middle- and upper-class motorists seeking comfortable long-distance travel.
The 12 HP designation referred to the car’s fiscal horsepower rating, used in France at the time to determine taxation categories. The actual engine output was slightly higher, usually in the range of 16 to 18 brake horsepower. The engine was a four-cylinder, side-valve unit with a displacement around 2.5 to 3.0 litres, depending on the exact variant and year of manufacture. The engine was water-cooled and used a magneto ignition system, providing steady and dependable performance.
The powerplant was mounted at the front of the chassis, paired with a manually operated gearbox, usually offering three or four forward speeds. Drive was delivered to the rear wheels via a shaft system, replacing the earlier chain-drive mechanism that De Dion-Bouton had used in its early designs. The gear ratios were designed for relaxed touring rather than high performance, with smooth acceleration and comfortable cruising at 40 to 60 km/h.
The phaeton body style was a hallmark of pre-war touring cars, featuring a long, open cabin with two rows of seats and a folding canvas top. The De Dion-Bouton 12 HP Phaeton typically offered seating for four passengers, with additional space for luggage or accessories. The car had high ground clearance, which made it suitable for the mixed road conditions of the time, from paved city streets to rural dirt tracks.
The chassis was built using a steel ladder frame, supporting wooden or metal coachwork depending on the customer’s choice or coachbuilder’s design. Suspension was provided by semi-elliptic leaf springs at the front and rear, offering a relatively smooth ride for the era. Braking was mechanical, applied to the rear wheels, with some versions also employing a transmission brake for additional stopping power.
Interior appointments were modest but elegant, with leather seats, a simple dashboard containing essential gauges, and brass or nickel-plated trim on key controls. The large, spoked wheels were typically shod with narrow-profile pneumatic tyres, and lighting was often acetylene-based in earlier versions, later shifting to electric systems.
This model appealed to a wide range of customers, including professionals, touring enthusiasts, and families seeking reliable long-distance transport. It was particularly well-suited to continental touring, with ample room for passengers and luggage, as well as enough power to handle moderate inclines and long stretches of open road.
The De Dion-Bouton 12 HP Phaeton represents an important step in the evolution of the early motorcar—from small, experimental vehicles to practical and enjoyable machines capable of offering comfort and range. Surviving examples are highly prized by collectors and restorers for their historical significance and elegant design. When maintained in original condition, they offer a vivid reminder of the era when motoring was an adventure and the open phaeton body provided a direct connection to the road and the landscape.