120 YEAR OLD CAR! What is it like to drive? 1904 De Dion Bouton veteran classic

[@HubNut]

Don't forget the HubNut discount code for museum entry! Details in description. Valid until 31/12/24.

[@__-fm5qv]

15mph has never looked more terrifying!

[@petersimpson5859]

I'm sitting at home, which was built in 1905, imagining the excitement the locals must have felt seeing such a machine. Can barely find a space to park in 2024. Best sounding single cylinder I've heard to date.

[@no1DdC]

There wasn't just excitement, but also far more widespread resentment, on top of often heated debates among early adopters. Cars - at least those that weren't electric - were loud, smelly, spilled oil everywhere, spooked horses and caused gnarly accidents. Since they were exclusive to well-off people due to their high price and exorbitant running costs (even "affordable" mass-produced cars that came later, like the Model T and Austin Seven, were too expensive for most people), they were seen as expensive toys of questionable value, driven by show-offs with a death wish. We tend to think that technology that is now ubiquitous - like cars, trains, planes and electrical appliances - were immediately popular, that people realized right away what great ideas they were, but this was never really the case, in large part due to how awful early examples usually were in practice. Widespread adoption was an uphill battle for many decades and far from a foregone conclusion, with outspoken supporters and innovators that are now being celebrated often having been looked down upon at the time. Right now, we can witness the exact same thing happening with things like VR headsets and electric cars, just to name two examples, although both are are more of a repeat of history. I'll not go into detail on VR headsets, since this is an automotive channel, but we are experiencing the second wave of consumer headsets right now, after the first during 1990s. When this De Dion was built, electric cars were the most widespread type of cars, ahead of steam cars (which offered unmatched performance) and with combustion engine cars being in third place. One look at the complicated operation of this vehicle should give you a hint as to why this was the case. Electric cars meanwhile were as simple to operate in the early 20th century as they are now, but which also led to insecure men looking down upon them, since they were considered effeminate. This must sound strangely familiar, given how some people are looking down upon electric cars today. "Real" cars have to be able to break your wrist, drop squirrels from nearby trees with their exhaust plumes and spill hot oil into your face, after all.

[@K_Bizz]

"For making the carriage walking at the first speed..."

[@Randgalf]

"Take back crowbar embrayage...."

[@orion1983uk]

And don't forget to push it rapidly without brutality.

[@cliffcosynerflight5253]

Its design for 3 arms and 1 leg.

[@justas525]

"When you try to start it it will break your wrist You wot ?"

[@danielkarmy4893]

Twenty years ago, as a classic car obsessed (proper classic cars, like this one) 9-year-old, this was what I used to dream of on a regular basis - having the chance to drive all the beautiful machines I admired so much. You know what? You're still living my dream...

[@TheChloeRed]

"if you drive a modern automatic, you just have no idea how involved that is" to be fair, if you drive a modern manual, you have no idea how involved that was!

[@Ragnar8504]

I'd say if you drive anything built after WWII and even some 1930s cars.

[@tsl56]

Wow! I remember going to a West Country flower show back in the mid-60s, which had both a Vintage and Veteran car display. My grandmother took a real interest in the De Dion Bouton, and proceeded to tell the owner that she drove a DDB as a taxi during World War 1 in South London. (I guess most male taxi drivers were by that time off driving army trucks in France.) And it certainly resembled this vehicle, but might have actually been a later and more taxi-sized model. A long conversation ensued with the owner, and Grannie even disappeared back home for a few minutes to get a photo of herself in a flat cap and overalls after finishing the daily lube routine. Still have that photo back in the UK; and some of her old London County Council driving licences.

[@ricknethery2441]

Not to worry. The first thing I did with my 1915 Ford Model T when it was delivered was to drive it into my closed garage door, confusing the gear selector pedal with a clutch. Thankfully no damage and I'm much more proficient now!

[@tomlobos2871]

i dont trust in such modern technology, i'll stick to my horse. and the good ol' railway gets me anywhere else. and its most likely just a fashion that wil disappear soon. (random comment 120 years ago)

[@Ragnar8504]

"I believe in the horse. The automobile is just a temporary phenomenon." Emporer William II of Germany, 1916.

[@davidbarber6268]

As a friend of mine used to say about computers, they won’t catch on 😂😂

[@Nino500]

@@Ragnar8504 Yes, I believe he described them as being "like Betamax"!

[@KimSenior]

And we should have.

[@colinrobinson7869]

Just fancied turning up to do the driving test in this excellent modern machine or should We go back to that fancy electric carriage we had a few years back my dears.

[@Mr_Reaper]

What a lucky man you are Ian and what a helpful/knowledgeable chap Stan is. Thank you very much for sharing this one.

[@EyesWideOpen61]

Luck is where preparedness meets opportunity

[@captainzoll3303]

2:45 On top gear in 2007 (S10, E8) they mentioned that this car had broken 7 people's wrists up to that point, it's good to see the car hasn't changed its ways since

[@CaptHollister]

Well done in managing to drive this thing without a hitch. Watching videos about hand cranking vintage and veteran cars, they usually tell you to keep your hand open rather than grip the starting handle in order to avoid broken bones if things go wrong. Seeing the whole car shake and rattle is a reminder why in the world of motorcycling large single cylinder motors are called "thumpers".

[@gkdresden]

It is amazing how difficult the handling of a vehicule was in the beginning of the 20th century. And it was very much different from one car to another. I think, since the 1970ies it was possible to more or less jump into a totally different car and you are almost immediately capable to drive it without any further advice. This was necessary to make business with car rental services. But they started these services in the United States, where it was usual to have automatic transmissions, which helps a lot to quickly change from one car to a totally different other one.

[@althejazzman]

Car controls were pretty much standardised by the 1950's

[@LeSarthois]

@@althejazzman Yeh. The last big change at least in France were the last pre-War models (Traction Avant, 1935 -1957, Renault Juvaquatre (1938-1960) which till the end, kept their gearbox patterns being either "upside down" or "mirrored" (for the traction avant, R is the rightmost down position, 1st gear right up, 2nd gear leftmost down, and 3rd leftmost up). I think that on vans those shift patterns lasted even on some post-war models but they were also aligned with the current shift pattern in the 60's as well.

[@daigriffiths399]

'So many things to think about!' - you get used to it. Some forty years ago I had a 1926 AJS 350 G4 motorcycle which had almost as many controls, but at least it had a (hand change) three speed gearbox. It took about four hours of riding to initially get used to the controls, after which I was able to ride it without having to think about what was where and when I needed to hit the oil pump plunger. I had some great times on that bike, including one particularly memorable day chasing a 1957 Excelsior two-stroke through the New Forest.

[@mossfoster5317]

I had a wonderful opportunity to drive a 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash on the London to Brighton run, nothing quite prepares you for how slowly these things are to stop, although the Old's is fairly straight forward to drive (even with tiller steering!) you have to plan your actions ten minutes in advance, certainly testing in London traffic!

[@PaulWilliams-me6ol]

How slow they r?? Try peak hour traffic in a modern car that can go well over a hundred kph! All they hav dun is put a steering wheel on your spare lounge room. Hang on to that horse and your train ticket, we can't keep this up.

[@jefferysmith3930]

I love the respect and enthusiasm you show when driving these old cars. Well done Ian!

[@fsodn]

This was amazing, Ian! This was much much better than Top Gear's drive with this car. I love it! Thank you so much!

[@TheMamosians]

This literally is a leather sofa on wheels. What a delightful video

[@paulnicholson1906]

I have a T touring car (not so old as this) and that is what driving it is like, flying down the road on a couch. The kids used to like my old cars I think mainly because they didn't have to wear seat belts.

[@TheMamosians]

@@paulnicholson1906 (a quick google of t touring car). Wow I bet they loved being in it! I've never been in anything pre 1970's so would be a real treat

[@DEEFIR]

Great video! I once drove a Stanley 1 block. I understand why you were anxious.

[@writefore]

Delightful! I almost felt like I was driving it myself. People in 1904 must have found this experience absolutely thrilling!

[@klauswassermann8054]

Lovely and endearing ancient motoring. I knew about the DeDion rear axle history but this is the first time I've seen an instance of the real thing :)

[@robertbarker5981]

Just think in 120 years from now people will be equally befuddled by a petrol or diesel car with three pedals and manual gearbox which we're allowed to drive for ourselves

[@baronthorsteinn]

I've only ever been to Beaulieu once - but I do remember watching the staff trying to start this De Dion (they have another one from 1903 as well, once Lord Montagu's personal transport...) and there was a big song and dance about it. I made sure not to miss it. It's one thing watching Jeremy Clarkson and James May (or was it Chris Goffey and Tony Mason?) wrestling with it on TV, it's quite another to see it live. And wasn't it considerate of the French to make it in right-hand-drive? By the 1970s they couldn't even be bothered to put the wipers on the right way round for us.

[@HubNut]

It was Clarkson and May.

[@baronthorsteinn]

@@HubNut "Ladies and gentlemen... Chris Goffey and Tony Mason!" - Richard Hammond, slightly derisively, in the immediate aftermath of that segment... For the record, I'd watch Chris Goffey talk about old Citroëns for hours.

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

The use of brass and copper is just fantastic

[@holbornvirginia]

an increase from 6 to 8 hp is an increase of 33.33% - not 25%

[@HubNut]

Ah. Even more! (I never was good at maths...)

[@holbornvirginia]

@@HubNut it was Stan who said it was 25% - I wouldn't dream of correcting someone who's give me/us so many great 2CV adventures.

[@caw25sha]

My dad used to smoke a pipe and he had dozens of Holborn Virginia tins in his shed for screws, nuts, bolts etc. (Sorry for the irrelevant comment!)

[@bobgorman9481]

​@@caw25sha Yes , everyone of certain age will have had a family member who saved the tin Golden Virginia tins for screw storage , and passed them on . I have some , but don't know of anyone in my family ( here or departed) who actually smoked , which is weird 😊😊

[@holbornvirginia]

@@caw25sha Old Holborn & Golden Virginia were brands of hand-rolling baccy, so not for pipes. My dad, also a pipe smoker, had baccy with names like "Ready rubbed navy shag".

[@richardarcher3435]

Brilliant, I enjoyed that. I remember reading that the reason early cars like that very often had no roof was that a roof was too heavy for the horsepower of the engine.

[@steamwally]

Great video and really excellent to see light shone on a popular type of veteran motor, which I'm sure many car enthusiasts will have simply passed by- veterans are quite fascinating and a deep subject. Just to add, it wasn't explained that the transmission brake pedal actually also works a "valve limiter" in the timing case, or would do if still connected- this device limits the opening of the exhaust valve and thereby, also the amount that the automatic inlet valve opens; consequently dropping the engine revs. George Bouton was a fabulous engineer with some very original ideas which made his motors very controllable. The original carburettor is not really a "surface carb" as described and has a float chamber and single jet, also a very peculiar sort of combined throttle/ choke assembly. Driving a car equipped as such, you generally set the "throttle" control and then drive on the advance/ retard and valve limiter. Having driven cars set up either way, I think the original system takes some beating once you get to know it. The gearbox is not actually epicyclic, but has a mainshaft and a layshaft of sorts- however, the gear lever is operating a rack and pinions which expand clutch bands inside drums, which is how the gears are engaged. Most single cylinder De Dions have a sort of "high and low range" control on the steering column, with great skill it is possible to double clutch from low to high without a crunch and the main gear lever then works in reverse, so you can re-engage the gear you were in and then smoothly select top, usually they are three speed. This also depended on who ordered the car and where they lived- the gearbox was sometimes supplied to suit the region in which the customer lived. I'm very fortunate to work with wonderful old motors such as this every day and regularly drive them, it's a fascinating world- the De Dions are the best and it matters not whether it's a little single cylinder "voiturette" or large multi-cylinder touring car, they are all well designed and beautifully built. Ian, for your next veteran experience may I recommend trying to find someone who will teach you to ride a De Dion tricycle, they are rather good fun and a largely unknown area of motoring history..

[@martinwade9421]

Thank you. I wish that they had shown more about the transmission.

[@elfcounsul]

I miss my standard three on the stem and four on the floor. Standard shift kept me engaged with machine. Automatics lull me asleep. I don’t need a radio, because engine sounds also keeps me engaged. With a radio, if the cars starts making a troubling sound, turn up the radio and the problem is solved. It was satisfying to smash the dimmer switch. Power steering robs one of an upper body workout. Steering improves the faster you go. Windshield wipers ran on a vacuum, until it develops a leak. No wipers? take a cig butt from the ashtray, remove the tobacco and smear it on the windshield. The tars were the poor man’s RainX. Cigarette lighters were perfect for smoking Hashish. I miss my Saab V4. That was a vine hunk of Swedish steel. It had freewheeling, which allowed you to coast down hills without disengaging the clutch. It was front wheel drive, and you can feel it pull you along. Great in the snow.

[@HowardLeVert]

Having now watched the video in full, is there any chance you can do more videos like this in the future? I find them far more interesting than those of "modern" vehicles.

[@HubNut]

I'll always aim for a mix of everything, because I love everything.

[@crashbox7130]

I drove down to Sussex in my 1932 Morris Minor to watch the 'Old Crocks' heading down to Brighton last month. After I left them to carry on to Brighton I headed further east and ticked Kent off the list of counties I've visited in the little Morris. Once I've been to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire 'up north', and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, 'down south', I'd have completed the list (minus Middlesex... I'm not taking it to London!! It's not worth the effort and stress).

[@johnbrereton5229]

I was born in Middlesex (Chiswick) and I now live in Derbyshire ( Old Whittington) 👍😊

[@tonys1636]

You could always visit Staines on Thames, Surrey as now called, formerly Staines, Middlesex.

[@crashbox7130]

@tonys1636 Just looked it up online. Was part of Middlesex until 1965. That'll do me very nicely 😄 Until I actually passed across the modern border into Berkshire last month, on my way down to Sussex, I listed the county as visited because Abingdon, where MGs were built, was in Berkshire until 1974. It was historically the county town of Berkshire before Reading took the title off it! Thanks for the tip 👍

[@heikkiremes5661]

Volvo 360 had a transaxle with a De Dion rear axle, too. I miss my blue 360 GLT. :(

[@MattBrownbill]

Even with the weight of the trans in the back, 340s were a bit "lively" if you lifted mid-corner. My friend did a 180 infront of me on a bend. Squeaky bumcheek time!

[@no1DdC]

@@MattBrownbill Sounds like the type of involuntary fun you can have with a rear-engine car. Been there, done that, am driving much more carefully ever since.

Not only that, but the 360 has a torque tube too, something the lesser 340 didn't have. I had a dark red 360 GL sedan. Objectively not the best car in the world, but it had character! I liked it.

[@Klutch58Customs]

Anyone getting impatient following a learner driver or perhaps teaching your kids. I recommend having a go with something like this to get a bit of perspective!

[@pdxRetired]

Another marvelous drive! Looks like this old car was very well engineered. How wonderful for the museum to actually allow people to drive this old car! Ian, thanks for bringing your viewers along for the ride.

[@bentullett6068]

Its a beautiful old car but everytime I see this car now all I can think of is that Top Gear episode where they drove this car and others from the collection finding the first vintage car that has the layout of controls we now see today in a car. I know most of the calamity they portray was for the camera but I would love to know if the owners manual for this car actually said what they said on screen.

[@2760ade]

I remember on Top Gear, Jeremy getting Rowan Atkinson to say De Dion Bouton in a silly voice! Not at all relevant, but the first thing I thought of when Hubnut said what it was!

[@EyesWideOpen61]

Holding my iPad in my hands here, the vibration feels like I’m in the car with you 😂 My uncle had a 1928 Model T, I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to operate

[@edgarbeat2851]

Great video. My friend, who I served my apprenticeship under his father, owned a 1904 Peugeot. It was recently sold. Miss seeing it so badly wanted to drive it. He owned various vintage also I bought his 1937 Wolseley 14/56 6cyl.

[@peterlarkin762]

Stan is a mine of knowledge. Both him and the De Dion are treasures.

[@ianellis3227]

What a terrific bit of machinery and to think we are still using almost the exact same technology some 100 or so years later. Well done for driving such a interesting car , just watching you made my head hurt, sadly didn't get to see you use the starting handle, may be next time

[@StephenAllcroft]

Trembler coil, epicyclic gearbox, reverse pedal? Henry Ford seems to have read up on these before sketching the model T.

[@theaylesburycyclist8756]

It’s amazing to think that car was 70 years old when I was born. It’s an absolute thing of beauty… The car’s not bad ether.!!

[@fulwell1]

The staff never fail to impress me you know - always friendly and knowledgeable but also very willing to share that knowledge and try to offer folks something of an experience. We are very lucky to have this gem.

[@lukecrowley571]

The transmission is quite similar to a Model T, except that the T uses a pedal for the forward gears too. Now I know where Ford got the idea from!😁

[@HowardLeVert]

I'm deeply envious of you driving that! It made me think; I'm sixty, and my maternal grandparents hadn't even been born when that was built.

[@maxeluy]

You drove that beauty like it was easy 😳👏🏻 Back when driving involved being the driver and the mechanic. Not for everyone, a true enthusiast machine

[@vernbale777]

What a magnificent car, 120 years old and it looks like it's just rolled off the production line, so much harder to drive than today's modern cars, love it 😍

[@neilosborn9996]

Marvellous. I suspect I shall just have to live out my desire to drive something from that era through your good offices. A very rare treat. Thank you!

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Mind blowing! And to think, the car has independent rear suspension, in 1904. Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing.

[@HubNut]

I told a slight like as a De Dion suspension isn't technically fully independent but it is a system used until fairly recently by Smart.

[@1ihws]

Having actually, really, grown up learning to crank start an old beast with 4 cylinders, 8 valves, and 7 horsepower first manufactured in 1937, I can relate!

[@jimbotron2]

Really nice. My father has a 1903 that was recently restored, it's down at N P Veteran for sale now.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

My nephew has a 1909 Renault (it was bought new by Dame Nellie Melba) but I have never seen it - I must do something about that! I do know that is a different beast.

[@grumpyto5]

The smile shows the fun being had.😊

[@geoffwoodgate7450]

Would be interested to see the drawings of the gearbox. If it is epicyclic then that control lever presumably operates brake bands making it semi automatic!

[@hadtopicausername]

Not only a very involving driving experience, you also managed to keep the narration going while driving it. I'd be too busy just keeping my arms and legs coordinated :)

[@TheFlyingdeuces]

Still super high tech in many ways (craftsmanship) can you imagine seeing that when to own a Horse and Cart would be the average man's dream.

[@rollingtroll]

Really baffled by how minimal your steering inputs are! This is amazing 🔥

[@HubNut]

Very direct steering!

[@rollingtroll]

@ looks like there is no transmission in that steering rack at all. Must have been quite heavy with that small wheel!

[@mrjsv4935]

Very cool and rare treat to see this old cars being driven :) Shows very well how far cars have developed from the early days.

[@DANIEL-p1e6j]

A proper motor car:) I think you did an excellent job mastering the controls. Cudos to you.

[@peterriggall8409]

What a special privilege that was. You did well mastering that Ian. I must say it was a lot to remember. Learning to drive all over again.

[@GoldenCroc]

As a guy with a love for mechanical stuff, cars from this era are my favorites. So incredibly rudimentary, in a beautiful way.

[@GoldenCroc]

What a lovely engine, car, everything! What an experience it must have been, I am quite jealous.

[@toyotaprius79]

The world needs more lightweight cars and microcars again, this would fit under the same category as a heavy quadricyle LE6 Citroën Ami

[@DavidStruveDesigns]

I love that exhaust whistle! 😊 Such a much nicer sound than the dumb, loud and highly irritating "pops & bangs" that so many have their exhausts do these days!! And what an ingenious way to have a horn that doesn't rely on electrics or squeezing an air horn bulb.

[@tunneltug]

We followed this car out of Hyde Park this year, it was being driven by a gentlemen in a grey coat and a lady with a pink Woolley hat, although by the time we got to the starting point at the exit of the park it had dropped back and I didn’t see it again

[@timevans815]

I so enjoyed that Ian. The gearbox seems to work a bit like my 1947 narrow boat box. That is epicyclic using brake bands. Smashing vid sir.

[@tradeplatetravels]

What an amazing machine - mildly terrifying to watch, but fascinating to experience!

[@tonymaries1652]

The first HubNut review I have watched where there is no comment on the triangle of doom!

[@johnclark2333]

Wow, so much fun with all the skills, most impressed.

[@JamesAllmond]

Hardly HubNut but so, so nice.... how could you not share!

[@HubNut]

Worth straying out of the comfort zone I think! I've always wanted to drive something this old.

[@theoriginaljc-j]

Your happiness and excitement are infectious. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience of early motoring.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

Videos like these make me feel great about driving old cars. Mine is a 2005 Mitsubishi 😊

[@niklaswejedal463]

Wow - that was very fascinating to watch! If that was tricky to drive today on smooth asphalt, imagine how it would be on the cobblestones or uneven gravel/dirt-roads of the early 1900s... oh dear... 😅

[@2760ade]

Not to mention having to steer round the horse shit every where!🤣

[@niklaswejedal463]

@@2760ade Ah, yes - forgot that... But in the end, I assume you'd have to just plow straight through, pretending it didn't happen... easier that way... 😅

[@chrispop99]

'Visibility's good' - yes, and no triangle of doom!

[@timr31908]

I would say there was a bit more going on in Lansing Michigan...😊

[@alansmith1770]

So much to think about when driving. Thanks Ian

[@Aehzur]

Being Portsmouth based, have been to beaulieu a few times, never enough time to take it all in! 😊

[@Velocipedium]

Very well driven 👏👏👏 Oh what an extraordinary treat! This has gone straight into my top 5 HubNut videos. NMM are marvellous.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

Definitely the first proper car this

[@marknelson5929]

I used to live near Lancaster Gate in London in the late 80s and 90s and always took the time to see the start of the London to Brighton run, a great spectacle.

[@TheLowerman]

Such a super video. Love seeing these cars and how they function. Thanks for taking us on a great adventure!!!

[@BrorAppelsin]

Must have a fair bit of torque from that engine to work that smoothly!

[@alpcns]

The mighty thunder of 5 horsepower or so? What a wonderful, strange machine. Imagine how it must have been for the people in those years - a complete miracle. It won't do burnouts, I presume. Thank you for sharing this, Ian. And a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

What a experience Ian, a lovely looking Car and a lovely chap Stan is, helping with the camera and so knowledgeable about the car.

[@tedkoester814]

Rpm level, the clutch h whine, very reminiscent of my '41 john deere b, felt quite at home!

[@roberthuron9160]

As an aside,De Dion- Bouton,also built chassises for Fifth Avenue Coach Co.[FACCO],prior to WW1,and they equipped as double Deckers! Interestingly,they used a hood ornament similar to Mercedes-Benz! Anyway,this is a side line on a heavy cousin of your vehicle! Thank you 😇 😊!

[@AndreiTupolev]

They were one of the first manufacturers (rivalling with Cadillac, I think) to produce a V8 engine as well. They struggled on into the 1930s making luxury cars, including staff cars for French Generals in the first unpleasantness

[@owenfish5450]

By over-simplifying driving in the modern era to the point where it's often easier than playing a video game, it's nice to remember that driving used to be an engaging endeavor. I wish more people applied their brains to their car control instead of *assuming* the computer will do it for them. We would all be safer and enjoy the roads more. Lovely video.

[@christopherlangdon8091]

I assure you that if I were driving a 1904 De Dion Bouton the roads would not be safer.

[@nigelalderman9178]

A lot of drivers in the UK are rude and pushy all hurrying to their funerals. I just spent 3 weeks in California and it was a revelation. The drivers were all so polite and helpful. You only see the bad stuff on the internet.

[@HowardLeVert]

@@nigelalderman9178 Couldn't agree more. I absolutely loathe driving these days and I do 20 - 30,000 miles a year. My sister came back from a motoring holiday in Belgium and the Netherlands recently and said the contrast between there and the UK was alarming.

[@toyotaprius79]

7:13 the Mitsubishi iMiEV has that rear suspension!

[@geoffersk]

Lovely little car, what a treat to drive it, and you made it look for the most part. Sure your head was probably screaming the controls are madness! Nuhbnut & Beaulieu wins again, thanks for the video

[@nickjones2536]

A great video Ian. I just love the way the De Dion Bouton bowls along. Such fun!

[@matslundstrom7763]

Hey! You forgot the wiper test!!! 😮❤

[@howardsportugal]

A mate of mine has one of those! A Rolls Canardly - Rolls down hills, Canardly get up the other side!

[@michaeljohnson9421]

The rear diff/axle set-up looks surprisingly modern. The rubber boots on the swing axles look just like the way Volkswagen did it.

[@HubNut]

I suspect some subtle upgrading.

[@owen080808]

This was an absolute delight to watch, what a machine. Great work mr hubnut

[@alancartwright2244]

An interesting starting and running procedure. Don't forget to apply the oiler, when engine is running!

[@mickphillips6735]

I just sold my model T as much as I loved it I wasn't over confident in modern traffic it was a crazy thing to drive

[@anthonystevens8683]

Over 100 years old and she still drives... with some foibles that are to be expected. Breaking wrists/arms and such have to be part and parcel of developing the 'knack'. I had a T140V Triumph Bonneville 750 bike that although not as painful had a knack to start being a kick start only engine with no exhaust valve decompressor. It worked most of the time but the odd mardy moment after the 2nd or 3rd kick she would not start come hell or high water. Leave her alone for 5 minutes and she would start first kick every time. Many thanks for sharing.

[@allanmollison6971]

Awesome car, thanks for sharing Ian. 😊👍

[@J500ANT]

Disappointed you didn't do a triangle of doom test, nor show the lights on the outro 😉

[@HubNut]

I think lights require some effort!

[@kerryhughesgillard9906]

What an amazing thing I'm so glad car controls moved on from there though. Looked so complicated to drive I was getting anxiety for you. Grate to watch and appreciate motoring history but give me three conventional pedals a H pattern gearbox and a normal handbrake any day lol .

[@CauliflowerMcPugg]

There is only one thing to say, and that is "awesome!"

[@robingray1302]

Well done for mastering that wonderful machine and for one of your finest videos yet !! Great visibility as you said but no wiper test.... I've been well aware of De Dion rear ends having owned an Alfa Alfetta and a 75 but wasn't aware the principle dated so far back, ain't nothing new under the sun as they say !

[@Bucharestguidedtours]

Great video, it's amazing that a 120 year old motor can still be maintained and driven about, you wonder if, in 120 years time, cars of today will still be able to be driven..Great stuff..