De Dion-Bouton Quadricycle

The sales success of the Tricycle and the capacity of the engine soon lead De Dion-Bouton to bring derivative models onto the market.

The sales success of the Tricycle and the capacity of the engine soon lead De Dion-Bouton to bring derivative models to market. One example is this four wheeler, the Quadricycle, the first of which is delivered in 1898. Thanks to its light weight and the water cooled single cylinder engine, this vehicle too is capable of delivering solid performance: on a flat road it can reach a speed of 50 km/h. The engines made by De Dion-Bouton are not cheap, but they are known for their reliability. That is why many car manufacturers who at first do not develop their own engines buy power units from De Dion-Bouton. Another advantage is that engine parts are easily interchangeable. The first cars from brands that would later become famous, such as Renault, Delage and the American Pierce-Arrow and Peerless, are fitted with De Dion-Bouton engines and in fact owe their very existence to them.