De Dion-Bouton built its first gasoline-engined car in 1899, and by 1904 it was the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, having supplied over 40,000 engines to over 150 European manufacturers. De Dion's single-cylinder engine turned at an incredible 3,000 RPM when other engines ran at around 500 RPM. This 1909 gentleman's sports car is thought to be the only complete DeDion-Bouton BV Type de Course in existence and is the last example of the historic single-cylinder engines perfected by De Dion-Bouton. The car was originally purchased by a London solicitor and then by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. Matinee idol Tyrone Power later bought it and shipped it to his home in Hollywood. In 1977, the car was featured in the film Airport '77 as a treasured antique belonging to the character played by Jimmy Stewart.
