Description
As part of De Dion-Bouton’s pioneering series of light vehicles, the Type E retained the company’s signature rear-mounted single-cylinder engine and distinctive vis-à-vis seating arrangement, where passengers sat facing one another. It was a small, elegant car aimed at wealthy early adopters who were transitioning from horse-drawn carriages to motorized travel.
Mechanically, the Type E was powered by a single-cylinder air-cooled engine, mounted at the rear beneath the bodywork. The displacement was typically around 499 cc, and the engine produced 4.5 horsepower, a modest but effective output for a light vehicle of this era. De Dion-Bouton engines were famous for their smooth operation and ability to rev higher than other engines of the time, giving their cars a practical performance advantage in both urban and rural use.
The power was delivered to the rear wheels via a two-speed gearbox with chain drive. Gear changes were managed through a long lever near the driver’s seat. Steering was controlled with a tiller, not a steering wheel, in keeping with very early automobile design. The braking system was rudimentary, using mechanical brakes acting on the transmission or rear wheels, and suspension was provided by leaf springs, offering a basic but functional ride quality.
In terms of layout, the vis-à-vis body placed the driver at the rear and the passenger seat facing backwards at the front of the car. This layout was inherited from traditional carriage design and was beginning to fall out of favor as forward-facing configurations became more practical and better suited to higher speeds. Nonetheless, it remained popular with many buyers at the time for its sociable arrangement and familiar feel.
The Type E rode on large, spoked wheels with solid or pneumatic rubber tires, and the overall construction was lightweight, using a tubular steel chassis with wooden body elements. The vehicle’s styling was simple but elegant, often featuring polished brass lamps, fine wood trim, and coach-built details that reflected its premium status.
De Dion-Bouton was the largest automobile manufacturer in the world around 1900, and cars like the Type E helped build that success. Their vehicles were renowned for quality and technical refinement, and their engines were so advanced that many other manufacturers licensed or imitated them.
Today, the De Dion-Bouton Type E Vis-à-Vis is a rare and valuable veteran car. It is highly prized by collectors and frequently seen in historic events such as the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, where it serves as a charming and evocative symbol of the very earliest days of motoring.