From the collection of the late Michael Banfield
1901 Dürkopp 8hp Twin-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau

• Rare early survivor of a relatively short-lived make
• One of only two known survivors from 1901
• Present family ownership since 1968
• London-Brighton Veteran Car Run participant since 1930
• Last driven on the L-B Run in 2019

Producers of (mainly) industrial sewing machines, the Dürkopp company still exists today as Dürkopp-Adler. Dürkopp's origins date back to 1867 when Nikolaus Dürkopp started his sewing machine business in the German city of Bielefeld, a centre for bicycle manufacture. Dürkopp owned another plant in Graz, Austria, and in the 1880s both factories began producing bicycles to meet the Europe-wide boom in this form of transportation. The firm's first automobile followed in 1898. Constructed along Panhard lines, these first Dürkopps featured front-mounted vertical twin-cylinder engines, final drive by chains, and wheels of unequal size. A much smaller car with a rear-mounted engine was on offer in 1899, featuring tandem seating and wire wheels. Motorcycle production commenced around 1901. Dürkopp's range expanded and by 1903 consisted of some five models ranging from an 8PS twin to a 40PS four, while a six-cylinder car was shown for the first time that year. In Britain the importer F Watson marketed Dürkopps under the 'Watsonia' brand name.
By 1914 Dürkopp had produced a succession of large-capacity fours, the ultimate being the 13-litre Type DG of 1912, but these sold in limited numbers, prompting the introduction of new smaller models known as the 'Knipperdolling' range.
After WWI, the firm concentrated mainly on medium-size cars of around 2 litres, plus a small number of larger types. Production of cars ceased in 1927 but commercial chassis continued to be available for a few more years. Production of motorcycles had ceased in 1914 and would not resume until 1949, Dürkopp's most famous product of the post-war period being the immensely successful Diana scooter.
Retailed via the company's UK headquarters in Long Acre, London WC2, this rare early Dürkopp automobile is powered by a twin-cylinder engine (bore/stroke 85x90mm) displacing 1,021cc, which drives via three-speed gearbox. Notable features include low-tension magneto and coil ignition; right-hand quadrant change; final drive by chain; transmission footbrake; handbrake on the rear wheels; and semi-elliptic springing all round. The car has Flec headlights, Bleriot side lamps and Dependence rear lamps, while the wooden wings were renewed in the early 1970s.
The old-style continuation logbook on file shows that the Dürkopp was owned from 1952 by motor dealer/collector Norman Reeves, passing (via the Beaulieu Development Co Ltd) to the Midland Motor Museum in February 1964 and then back to Beaulieu and the Montagu Motor Museum in October 1964. A letter on file from Norman Reeves states that the car had formerly belonged to (VCC member) Mr Frank Jarrett. In 1966 Veteran & Vintage Magazine featured the Dürkopp on the cover of their December edition, while in 1967 it was driven by comic actor Spike Milligan for the NMM on that year's London-Brighton Run (press cuttings on file).

The late Michael Banfield purchased the car at a UK auction in October 1968 (catalogue description on file) and in a letter dated 8th October 1985 describes it as 'totally restored and... in magnificent condition'. Michael was formerly chairman of the Veteran Car Club of GB and the restoration was carried out in his own workshops in the early 1970s. At the time of restoration it was believed that the car was a 10hp model but having carried out further research prior to this sale, it is in fact an 8hp car.
Bonhams had the privilege of selling Michael's collection when the bulk of it was dispersed in June 2014. Also on file is a Classic Motivation invoice dated November 2018 relating to a partial engine overhaul together with others relating to a gearbox rebuild in October 1993.
The Dürkopp was last driven on the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run in 2019, and all runs participated in since 1930 are listed. The history files also contain 2018 and 2019 London-Brighton Run finisher's certificates; a selection of colour photographs; old/current V5/V5C Registration Certificates; VCC and NMM correspondence; a VCC Dating Certificate; and copy historical literature.