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2009 edition of Rétromobile, Paris, showed a wide variety of automobiles from the past together with a special section dedicated to alternative energy propulsion automobiles ; this section illustrated the solutions proposed when petrol distribution was scarce, that is at the beginning of automobile history or during Second World War.

Steam and Electric Cars at Rétromobile 2009

1 - Stanley Steamer 1898 :

Stanley Steamer 1898 replica in operation. The original was produced at 200 units in one year. Petrol operated boiler under the chassis. Water reservoir at the rear. Piston and connecting rod propulsion engine under the seating bench.

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2 - Stanley Steamer 1903 :

Stanley Steamer 1903 – 8 hp steam engine with petrol operated boiler under the chassis. water reservoir at rear; steam propulsion engine under driver seating bench; Top speed 50 kph.

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3 - Peugeot Serpollet tricycle 1889 :

Peugeot Serpollet tricycle 1889. The coke heated boiler is installed at the rear. Right Rear wheel drive by chain transmission and two speed gearbox.. Top speed 25 kph.

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4 - De Dion Bouton steam “Dog Cart” 1885 :

De Dion Bouton steam “Dog Cart” 1885 – Front wheel drive, rear wheel steering vehicle.
4 passengers vehicle dedicated for transporting hunting dogs. De Dion Bouton has built steam propulsion vehicle till 1895.

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1 - Jenatzy “ Jamais Contente” 1899

Jenatzy “ Jamais Contente” 1899 –this vehicle that established a record top speed of 105,879 kph. For the first time ever an automobile could go faster than 100 kph. Camille Jenatzy developed this special electric vehicle and drove it to the record top speed as a promotion for is Company “La Compagnie Internationale des Transports Automobiles” (International Automobile Transportation Company) that operated electric taxis in Paris.

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2 - Krieger Limousine 1908

Krieger Limousine 1908 – This vehicle is propelled by two 10 hp electric motors driving the front wheels. Weight two tons. operating range 100 km on one battery charge.

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3 - Harrods electric delivery truck

Harrods electric delivery truck. 60 of these one ton delivery trucks were produced for the famous London luxury store. Top speed 40 kph.

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4 - Bugatti Type 56 Electric 1 CV 1931

Bugatti Type 56 Electric 1 CV 1931. This vehicle was originally produced for driving around the Bugatti factory ground. Ten cars were built for sale at customer’s request.

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5 - Milde- Krieger 1941

Milde- Krieger 1941 - Due to petrol scarcity during Second World War, 100 to 150 cars were produced with electric propulsion. Top speed 40 kph. Weight 1412 kg. Operating range 100 km. 48 batteries stored at front and rear ends.
Energy recuperation during slowing down.

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6 - Peugeot – VLV – 1941 – 1945

Petrol scarcity during Second World War induced Peugeot to produce the VLV ( Vehicle Leger de Ville or Light Urban Vehicle) with two seats. Weight 350 kg of which 160 kg are for the batteries. Operating range 80 km. Top speed 36 kph. 377 cars produced. These vehicles were essentially used for Post distribution or medical assistance since war conditions required special driving authorisation.

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7 - Stela 1941

This electric car was produced during the Second World War, in reason for the petrol scarcity, by Service de la Traction Electrique Légère à Accumulateurs in the FAL (Forges et Ateliers de Lyon) factory. This car with tubular space frame had a large body allowing space in confort for four passengers. The batteries were placed in the rear trunk. Some of these car were driven as taxi cabs in Lyon till 1950.

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8 - Citroën Citela 1992

Citroën Citela 1992 – Four seats electric prototype with 100 kph top speed and an operating range of 110 km on one batteries charge. This prototype was tested over 1 million kilometres.

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1 - Bugatti Type 18 “Black Besse” 1913

Bugatti Type 18 “Black Besse” 1913 sold at Bonham’s auction for 2.427.500 Euros.
5.027 cc four cylinder engine, with two admission valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder,
producing up to 100 hp at 2.400 rpm. The clutch was multi-disc type and the transmission was by a four speed gearbox and two final chains.Top speed 160 kph.

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2 - Bugatti Type 57 S Atalante 1937

Bugatti Type 57 S Atalante 1937 sold at Bonham’s auction for 3.417.500 Euros.

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3 - Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux 1934

Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux 1934 sold at Bonham’s auction for 166.750 Euros.
3.000 cc 8 cylinder engine producing up to 110 hp at 3.500 rpm. Four speed gearbox.

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4 - Citroen Type A 1919

Citroen Type A 1919 was the first mass produced Citroen bearing the Double Chevron emblem.
1327 cc 18 hp at 2.100 rpm 4 cylinder engine with lateral valves.28.400 cars produced between 1919 and 1921.

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5 - Peugeot Type 3 1891 - 1994

(see CAR REVIEWS for further details and pictures)

Link to Peugeot Type 3 1891

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6 - Porsche 804 Formula One 1962

Porsche 804 Formula One 1962 – Powered by an air cooled 1,5 litre flat 8 four camshafts engine. Driven by Jo Bonnier this car finished second in the 1962 Solitude Grand Prix and 6th in the Italian Grand Prix.

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7 - Lotus 18 Formula One 1961

Lotus 18 Formula One 1961 fitted with a Coventry Climax FPF engine and a Colotti gearbox;
Entered by Rob Walker and driven by Stirling Moss. It won the 1961 Monaco and German Grand Prix.

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8 - Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 - Le Mans 1932

Alfa Romeo 8C2300 Le Mans 1932 – This car propelled by 2336 cc 8 cylinder engine with Roots supercharger won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1932 with Sommer and Chinetti at the wheel.

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9 - Alfa Romeo Monoposto Tipo 12C 1936

Alfa Romeo Monoposto Tipo 12C 1936 – 6 cars were built in 1936 with V12 engine made of two aluminium monoblocs; this engine produced 370 hp at 5.800 rpm and allowed a top speed of 290 kph. Weight 820 kg. Nuvolari won 1936 Penya Rhin GP, the Hungary GP and the Milan GP as well as Coppa Vanderbilt at New York while finishing second at Monza Italian GP.

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10 - Alfa Romeo Tipo 33-2 Daytona 1968

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33-2 Daytona 1968 – 1995 cc four overhead cam V8 engine producing 270 hp. This car entered by Autodelta won 1968 Imola 500 km with Vacarella and Zeccoli at the wheel.

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11 - BMW 328 1939

BMW 328 1939 – This sports car with 1991 cc 6 cylinder engine producing 80 hp at 5.000 rpm was entered at 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans with Paul Heinemann at the wheel. 464 BMW 328 were produced between 1936 and 1940. Weight 830 kg.Top speed 150 kph.

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12 - Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Mille Miglia Spyder - 1934

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13 - Mercedes Benz 26-120-180 S-type Saoutchik roadster 1928

Mercedes Benz 26-120-180 S-type Saoutchik roadster 1928 – 6,8 litre 6 cylinder supercharged engine producing 120 to 180 hp. The Mercedes Benz S Type was developed by Ferdinand Porsche while he was working for the Mercedes Company. Most Mercedes S Type bear bodywork made by factory Sindelfingen coachwork but this car was prepared by Saoutchik coachbuilder in Paris.
Mercedes Benz Silver Arrows W165 1939 – this car won the 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix.

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14 - Lancia LC2 Endurance Group C 1984

Lancia LC2 Endurance Group C 1984 – 3.014 cc V8 twin turbo four valves per cylinder engine producing 680 hp. Top Speed 360 kph.. This car won 1984 1000 km of Kyalami and 1985 1000 km of Spa. A total of 5 Lancia LC2 were produced.

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15 - Lancia D24 Barchetta -005 1954

Lancia D24 -005 1954 – 3,3 litre V6 aluminium engine with 4 overhead camshaft producing up to 265 hp. This car won 1954 Targa Florio with Taruffi at the wheel and 1954 Porto with Villoresi at the wheel.

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16 - Ferrari 365 GTB 4 Competizione Berlinetta 1973

Ferrari 365 GTB 4 Competizione Berlinetta 1973 – This car won the GT Class at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1973 and finished 6th overall.

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17 - Cadillac Phaeton V12 1931

Cadillac V12 1931 – 6 litre V12 engine producing up to 135 hp at 3.400 rpm.

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18 - Duesemberg Model J 1929

Duesemberg Model J 1929 – twin overhead camshaft, 32 valves, straight eight engine producing up to 265 hp. The top speed was 116 mph (187 kph).

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19 - Bugatti Type 13 “8 valve” two seater 1913

Bugatti Type 13 “8 valve” two seater 1913 – 475 cars produced.

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20 - Bugatti Type 57 1936

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21 - Maserati 8CM 1934

Maserati 8CM 1934 – this car was supplied to Nuvolari in May 1934. It was built in wide bodied form to comply with the new 750 kg Formula racing car. His best result was 2nd to Fagioli’s Mercedes Benz in the 1934 Coppa Acerbo. (maserati rouge N°36)

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22 - CD Panhard Prototype Le Mans 1964

CD Panhard Prototype Le Mans 1964 – This car was developed by Charles Deutsch , a famous French engineer specialized in aerodynamics ; he was the founder of DB Company with René Bonnet and prepared this car in his Design Center SECA/SERA.

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23 - Ferrari F500 1952

Ferrari F500 1952 – driven by Alberto Ascari, it took the World Championship in both 1952 and 1953. It was also driven by Mike Hawthorn and Maurice Trintignant.

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24 - Mercedes Benz W194 1952

Mercedes Benz W194 1952 – One of the Factory Team cars built in 1952. The car shown in the form in which it practiced for the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans with an airbrake mounted on the roof. It was used as practice car for the 1952 Mille Miglia and competed in the Carrera Pan Americana.

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25 - Lotus-Ford Mk 9 1955

Lotus-Ford Mk 9 1955 – this is one of the first car produced by Colin Chapman after he founded Lotus Engineering Company. – Tubular space frame with aluminium bodywork designed by Frank Costin who was aerodynamicist working for the De Havilland aircraft manufacturer. 1172 cc lateral valve Ford ten 4 cylinder engine with three speed gearbox..
The Lotus Mk 9 was later equipped with a Coventry Climax engine and entered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Colin Chapman and Ron Flockhart at the wheel. The car established the fastest lap time in its category at an average 155 kph .

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26 - Ferrari 250 GTO 1963

(see CAR REVIEWS for further details and pictures)

Link to Ferrari 250 GTO 1963

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27 - Ferrari 250 GT SWB

(see CAR REVIEWS for further details and pictures)

Link to Ferrari 250 GT SWB

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