De Dietrich 24hp

A 1903 De Dietrich 24hp veteran car

Key facts

  • Year

    1903

  • Country

    France

  • Capacity

    5,428cc

  • Cylinders

    4 cylinder

  • Performance

    50mph

  • Price new

    £960

  • Loaned by

    Private Owner

  • Manufacturer

    De Dietrich et Cie, Luneville

This 1903 De Dietrich 24hp is a typical fast touring car of the early 20th century, with the engine at the front and chain-driven rear wheels. Braking is on the rear wheels only. Originally owned by gold mining pioneer Sir Joseph Robinson, it was placed in a London furniture depository when he emigrated in 1910 and remained in storage until 1956. It appears regularly in the annual London to Brighton run for Veteran cars.

De Dietrich is a French company with origins dating back to an ironworks in 17th Century Alsace. In the 1870s Alsace became part of Germany and a new factory was built on French soil at Luneville in Lorraine. Car production started in 1897. From 1901 De Dietrichs were actually designed by Turcat-Méry of Marseilles, both companies building near-identical cars. From 1905 a new company was formed and the cars were branded as Lorraine-Dietrich.

Absence of vibration, coupled with its speed and easy running, make it compare most favourably with the other principal makes of car…

Letter from Mr H R Kirk of Leeds, quoted in 1904 De Dietrich brochure

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Panoramic view of the first floor of the National Motor Museum

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