1904 Richard-Brasier 16hp Type O Four-Cylinder Side-Entrance Tonneau

• Rare survivor from one of France's premier makes
• Matching numbers
• Original coachwork
• Present ownership since 2012
• Extensively refurbished
• Entered in the 2023 London-Brighton Veteran Car Run

The Brasier marque originated in 1901 when engineer Henri Brasier left Mors to join Georges Richard, who together with his brother Max had been building cars since the late 1890s at Ivry-Port, Seine, France. The Richards had offered a Benz-like car at first, to which was added a smaller voiturette model licensed from the Belgian manufacturer, Vivinus. Previously called 'Georges Richard', the cars were renamed 'Richard-Brasier' for 1904 and plain 'Brasier' after 1905 following Georges Richard's departure to found Unic. 1903 also marked the first appearance of Brasier's famous four-leaf clover logo, or 'Trefle a Quatre'.

On his arrival Henri Brasier had instigated a new range of larger cars constructed along Panhard lines, consisting of four chain-driven models with two and four-cylinder engines ranging in power from 10 to 40hp. Pressed steel chassis frames were the norm by 1904, while chain drive survived on only the largest models, shaft drive having been adopted on the others.

Brasier quickly transformed the quality of the production cars, to the extent the "Autocar" of 13th February 1904, proclaimed of the Georges Richard-Brasier: "There are we believe, no cars at present before the automobile public which show a greater advance than the excellently designed vehicles which may at the present moment be seen at Messrs Mann and Overton's 'Victoria' Garage". With a 'best in class', product line under his belt, Brasier's direction soon returned to his main interest: motor racing.

At Mors he had been chief engineer responsible for their hugely successful racing cars so, as a start, he designed a 400kg voiturette for the 1903 Paris-Madrid race. The shaft-driven Richard-Brasier had a 2,271cc four-cylinder T-head engine, and examples finished 2nd, 4th and 16th in the voiturette category, but this was only the beginning.

It was in 1904 that Richard-Brasier gained the first of its two consecutive victories in the Gordon Bennett Cup. First run in 1900 in France, the latter took its name from founder James Gordon Bennett Jr, millionaire owner of the New York Herald newspaper and himself a keen sportsman. Contested by national teams, the races were hosted in the country of the previous year's winner until 1905, after which the Automobile Club de France organised the first motor racing Grand Prix at Le Mans. But prior to the coming of Grands Prix, the Gordon Bennett Cup was the most prized trophy of them all.

The 1903 race had been won by the Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy driving a German Mercedes, so the 1904 event was run in Germany around a circuit in the Taunus Mountains. Victory went to the 9.9-litre 80hp Richard-Brasier of Léon Théry, who retained the Cup the following year at the Circuit d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand driving an 11.2-litre 90hp car.

1904 was unquestionably an outstanding year for the company, not only victorious in the Gordon Bennett trials and the race itself but also on water, winning the Harmsworth Trophy on the Solent and the Prince of Monaco Cup with their 10-metre powerboat, aptly named 'Trefle a Quatre'. They ended the 1904 season having constructed 624 cars and with a unique Grand Slam in motor sport history, winning both of the major automobile races and both of the major powerboat competitions, all using the same Brasier-designed 9.9-litre GB4 engine. In addition, 'Trefle a Quatre' had broken the water speed record. As a reward for his achievements Henri Brasier was made Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the President of the French Republic at the Paris Salon that December.

This was, arguably, the high point of Brasier's fortunes, for the company went into decline after The Great War and was acquired by the bicycle manufacturer Chaigneau in 1926, after which it continued to produce cars under the Chaigneau-Brasier name for a few more years.

The extremely rare Richard-Brasier offered here, a correct matching numbers example, is powered by the 2,271cc, T-head, four-cylinder engine, derived from that of the Paris-Madrid voiturettes, with a maker's rating of 16 horsepower, and carries its original four-seater, side-entrance tonneau coachwork by the Company Française de Materiel de Chemins de Fer. The latter's works was in the Parisian suburb of Ivry-Port where Richard-Brasier had its factory. Other specification highlights include a pressed steel chassis frame; shaft drive to the live rear axle; a four-speed gearbox with direct-drive top; good brakes on the rear wheels and transmission; magneto ignition; and a substantial front radiator with fan. The cars were at the forefront of design and were beautifully made.

Little is known of the Richard-Brasier's history prior to its acquisition by the noted Dutch collector M M H Lips of Drunen in the 1960s, his large Veteran car collection subsequently becoming the Dutch museum Autotron at Rosmalen in the 1970s. The car had clearly been very carefully conserved as a contemporary b/w photograph confirms. Intriguingly, in a period Richard-Brasier advertisement, it is noted that an identical four-cylinder Richard-Brasier with coachwork by the same Compagnie Française de Materiel de Chemins de Fer won a gold medal at the Concours de Tourisme in Touraine, driven by Count Andre Walewski, Napoleon Bonaparte's great grandson.

A very old 'transfer' is present in two places on the car for Carrosserie '1O' of 101, Avenue de la Capelette in Marseilles 10e, suggesting the car was previously in that region and that Mr Lips may have acquired it in Marseilles. The photograph of the car in the 1960s shows this transfer already in place, while a carrosserie and car dealer is still registered at that address today.

While in Autotron's ownership the decommissioned but highly original Richard-Brasier was displayed and not used until Nick Crewdson was appointed by the Museum to put the car back on the road some 30-plus years later.

The previous owner bought the car in December 2000 immediately after its successful run to Brighton that year. Documentation on file includes an emailed letter from Nick Crewdson recalling the work he did for Autotron in 1999 to prepare the car for the London-Brighton Run, having collected it from Holland that spring. This included overhauling the engine with new valve seats and guides; re-boring the cylinders; repairing the con-rods; regrinding the crankshaft and white-metaling all bearings; and fitting new pistons sourced from the USA. In addition, the wheels were rebuilt with new rims; the clutch replaced; a new track rod and steering arm installed; the magneto overhauled; an ignition advance/retard linkage fabricated; and a substitute carburettor fitted. The gearbox and rear axle were inspected but deemed not to require any work. As the car had stood for over 25 years, much of the refurbishment involved making parts that were broken or seized. Nick's letter concludes: "I think you have a very nice car and one of the best I have driven." Also on file is a bill from Brentclass for various works including the manufacture of a new windscreen and the design and manufacture of rear wheel brakes. The windscreen has been removed by the vendor but is still with the car and is available to be collected by the new owner.

While in the custody of the current owner, an experienced engineer and Veteran car enthusiast, two bronze bearings in the gearbox were replaced; a new 3rd gear pinion installed; new bronze blocks to the original design fitted to the rear of the prop-shaft; and the radiator refurbished; In addition, the coachwork was strengthened; the gear and brake mechanisms refurbished; and more upmarket lamps fitted together with running boards and a discretely installed electric starter. All this work over many years has resulted in an outstandingly sound and well-presented car, which has been expertly maintained in-house in a climate controlled, museum-style environment.

Noteworthy features of this imposing Veteran motor car include superb Lenticulaire Parabolique BRC 'Alpha' self-generating, brass acetylene headlamps; Bleriot of Paris oil side lamps; a quality brass rear oil lamp; a brass dashboard oil lamp or 'torch' with bullseye glass; a 'Boa Constrictor' bulb horn; and a Henry Hamelle mechanical oiler No. 1186. The chassis plate, the car plate, the coachbuilder's plate and Autotron museum plates are all still in place. The exhaust system is truly a work of art and the twin tail pipes distinctive and characteristic of the marque.

The coachwork is finished in caramel and black with brass cappings, black wings, black wheels with gold detailing, and original deep button-backed brown leather upholstery. A radiator guard and a set of fitted tonneau covers have been made for the car in dark brown, matching the upholstery.

In a previous owner's hands, the Richard-Brasier completed the London to Brighton Run every year for 10 years, along with several other events. Highlights of the car's extensive European rallying include the 2005 Gordon Bennett Centenary event at Clermont Ferrand, France and the 2008 Dieppe Retro event where the Richard-Brasier was judged the most significant and important entrant by the President of the Association des Musées Automobiles de France.

Acquired at the Bonhams Brighton Run sale in 2012 by the vendor, in current ownership the car has continued to participate in events here and abroad, notably the Gordon Bennett commemoration rallies held in the Ardennes on the Circuit de L'Argonne during 2015 and 2018, once again receiving the top award for the most significant and desirable Veteran car, awarded this time by the Royal Veteran Car Club of Belgium. It has completed further London to Brighton runs; appeared at the Warren Classic Concours and various Veteran car rallies in the UK, Belgium, Holland and France; and most recently this year on the RAC Summer Run based at Woodcote Park in Epsom, when at all times the car has performed faultlessly. Often driven by the vendor's daughter, the car is smooth, light to drive and capable of 45-50mph without strain as a recent demonstration and road test with Bonhams in August showed. It is a lasting testament to how good these short-lived Richard-Brasier cars were.

An identical and complete Type O engine with flywheel, carburettor and magneto etc, together with a spare Type O rear axle, both in good serviceable condition, are available by separate negotiation.

Described as in generally excellent/very good condition throughout, but cosmetically little changed from the 1960s, the car is offered with the aforementioned documentation; VCC dating certificate (No. 2338); Science Museum dating certificate; VSCC 'buff form'; copies of instruction manual, model articles, old Richard Brasier advertisements; current MoT until October 2024; and V5C registration document.

'BS 8337' comes with an accepted entry in the 2023 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and is presented and prepared accordingly. It is one of the most elegant and practical of cars available, and capable of significant daily mileage. The vendor is willing to provide tuition prior to, and/or to accompany the buyer on the run itself if requested.