1903 De Dion Bouton

Marquis Albert De Dion was an industrialist and automotive genius. He pioneered many 'firsts' for the automotive industry and recognized the power and potential of the gasoline engine. He teamed with Georges Bouton, an engineer, and together they produced a self-propelled steam vehicle in 1882. To improve the ride of the vehicle, a lightweight rear axle was invented and later patented under the name 'de Dion'. In 1890 they patented a gasoline single-cylinder engine and in 1895, they were producing vehicles. The single-cylinder engine was also used to power sporting tricycles until 1901.

In 1985 De Dion created the first automobile club and in 1898, organized an auto show in Paris, the first auto show the world had ever seen. By the close of the 1890s, the 3.5 horsepower rear-engined petite voiture had become the world's first series-production small car.

Over 150 various motorcycle and automobile manufacturers bought licenses to build the Bouton and De Dion engines. The internal combustion engines by engineer Bouton developed significantly greater output than their contemporaries from Daimler and Benz, yet (importantly) matched them for reliability. Thus, by 1900, De Dion and Bouton were the world's largest makers of automobiles, with an annual production of 400 cars and 3,200 engines. By 1904 De Dion had supplied over 40,000 engines produced by their Puteaux facility.

In 1902 a six horsepower engine appeared, still being placed behind the driver and powering the rear wheels. It used a two-speed expanding clutch transmission. An 8-horsepower engine was later introduced, placed under a hood in front of the vehicle, and dubbed the Model K.

By 1903 a two-cylinder engine had been produced, increasing the horsepower rating to 12. Two years later, a four-cylinder version capable of producing between 15 and 24 horsepower, depending on configuration, had been developed.

In 1908 the company produced its final 8-horsepower single-cylinder engine and all models were now equipped with conventional gearboxes.

In 1910 De Dion and Bouton introduced an eight-cylinder engine in 'Vee' configuration, another innovative achievement for the duo. The 6.1-liter engine was capable of producing 35 horsepower. The displacement was further enlarged to 7.8 liters and again to 14.7 liters. The eight-cylinder engine was used until 1923, when a new OHV 12-cylinder engine with aluminum pistons was introduced.

With national tragedies such as World War I and the onset of the Great Depression, the De Dion company began to struggle financially. In 1927, it ceased production temporarily and when it resumed production, it had a new 2.5-liter straight eight-cylinder and a 2-liter four-cylinder engine. Sluggish sales were combated by an increase in displacement to 3-liters in 1930.

In 1932 the last automobile produced by the De Dion Company was produced. It continued to produce trucks until the close of the 1940s when it shifted its focus to servicing automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007