27d • Classic Car Knowledge
One of the oldest cars in the world, seen up close
This holiday I came across something truly special at the Louwman Museum.
This is a De Dion-Bouton & Trépardoux from 1887, a car from the very dawn of motoring, and quite literally one of the oldest automobiles in the world.
At this point in history, the idea of a “car” didn’t really exist yet. What you’re looking at is still closer to a horse-drawn carriage than anything we’d recognize today. No steering wheel, no pedals, no safety systems, just exposed mechanics, thin spoked wheels and a visible engine doing its best to move people without a horse.
What struck me most seeing it in person is how experimental everything still was. Manufacturers were figuring things out as they went:
- How do you steer?
- How do you brake?
- Where do you place the engine?
- How do you control speed?
This car isn’t about speed or comfort, it’s about curiosity, courage and invention. Without vehicles like this, there would be no modern cars, no motorsport, no detailing, no automotive culture as we know it today.
Standing in front of it really puts things into perspective. Every car we love today traces its roots back to machines like this.
Have you ever seen a car from this early era in real life?
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One of the oldest cars in the world, seen up close
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