Vanderbilt Cup Races

Some of the most exciting events of Hershey Week were the RM Auctions at Hershey Lodge on October 6-7, 2011. The highlight was the sale of the 1884 De Dion Bouton Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos Steam Runabout, considered the world's oldest running car. Here are my photos of the car as it was displayed in ballroom lobby and a 6-minute video showing its sale for an amazing $4.62 million, over twice the low estimate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a front-row seat and watch two bidders bring the final price to $4.62 million (including RM's commssions). This is a record price for an early motor car sold at auction:

Press Release Issued by RM Auctions:

WORLD’S OLDEST RUNNING MOTOR CAR BRINGS A REMARKABLE $4,620,000 AT RM’S HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA SALE
Hershey 

Historic 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout more than doubles its estimate at RM’s Hershey auction, selling for a record $4,620,000.

HERSHEY, Pennsylvania (October 7, 2011) – The world’s oldest running motor car, a historic 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, entered the history books tonight, selling for an impressive $4.62 million before a packed house at RM Auctions’ Hershey, Pennsylvania sale. The impressive sale price more than doubled its original pre-sale estimate and represents a new world record for an early motor car sold at auction.

Commissioned by French entrepreneur, Count de Dion and named ‘La Marquise’ after his mother, the 127 year old vehicle drew a standing ovation from the audience as it drove onto RM’s Hershey 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.

“We were honored to have been entrusted with the sale of this most important motor car from the renowned collection of the late Mr. John O’Quinn. The world’s leading automotive collectors recognized the incredibly rare opportunity the sale represented, as was reflected in the spirited bidding and impressive result,” said Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions following the sale.

The new owner joins an elite list of just five collectors to have claimed ownership of La Marquise over its well-documented history. In addition to being the world’s oldest running motor car, La Marquise’s impressive provenance includes participation in the first automobile race in 1887, where it reached a top speed of 37 mph on the straights, along with a double award at the famed 1997 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. In addition, La Marquise has also successfully completed four London to Brighton runs in the UK.

Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com and the Internet:

The 2011 AACA Eastern Division National Fall Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hershey Auction Results

News Articles on the 1884 De Dion

Index: Archives on VanderbiltCupRaces.com

Car of the Week

Vintage or unusual cars seen recently in the Long Island area:

 1958 Lister Jaguar seen at the 2011 Bridgehampton Poker Rally. The car, built in the U.K. by Brian Lister, weighed only 1,400 pounds and with over 300 hp from its Jaguar D-type engine and an aluminum body, it was a missile.