1899 Phébus 2¼hp Motor Tricycle

• Eligible for both the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run and the Pioneer Run
• De Dion Bouton engine
• Fully restored in 2016
• Present ownership since 2017
• Enthusiastically campaigned (see below)
• One of the fastest trikes in current use

The Phébus motor tricycle was produced by the Anglo-French Clément-Gladiator-Humber conglomerate under the direction of Noé Boyer, whose own company would later manufacture the Phébus voiturette and Boyer car. The marque took its name from the Greek and Roman sun god, Phoebus (Apollo). Phébus motor tricycles were manufactured between 1898 and 1902 with either French-built Aster or De Dion Bouton proprietary engines. This Phébus has the superior De Dion Bouton 2¼hp engine. A Phébus motor tricycle, ridden by the pioneering racing motorist, Charles Jarrott, achieved the then astonishing speed of 39mph at the Crystal Palace velodrome. Jarrott's racing companion on the day was the UK's Phébus importer, F F Wellington.

Our vendor bought this Phébus trike nine years ago from Peter Fryer, the present Chairman of the De Dion Bouton Club. Peter had located the Phébus in a Dutch museum at Assen in 2014; it is believed to have been there for some 30 years and had been identified - wrongly - as a De Dion Bouton tricycle. No previous history is known.

In 2016 Peter Fryer oversaw the complete restoration of the trike to a very high standard. The engine and transmission were fully restored by a well known engineering firm, and a new crown-wheel-and-pinion and half-shafts with gears manufactured. In addition, the chassis frame was shot-blasted and painted; the wheels rebuilt; and the handlebars, pedal cranks and fuel tank re-nickelled. Photographs of this trike feature in the Phébus section of Michael Edward's excellent book, The Motor Tricycle 1895 to 1902 Part One (pages 210 and 211).

Trike racing between 1898 and 1901 was the earliest form of motor racing in England. The aforementioned Charles Jarrott was a successful early trike racer, and the De Dion Bouton Club has organised a number of 'Team Jarrott' races for trikes. This particular trike is one of the fastest in the Club and has competed in the following races:

Brooklands, 120th Anniversary of the first British Motor Race
Brooklands, 122nd Anniversary of the first British Motor Race (came 1st)
Bernard Holme's Private Track Races
Bicester Heritage Track Races
Brooklands, 124th Anniversary of the first British Motor Race (came 2nd)
Montlhéry Track Race to celebrate 1900 Olympic Games Trike Race

Offered with a VCC Dating Report, a VCC Dating Certificate and a Pioneer Certificate, the trike may be entered into both the London-to-Brighton Run and the Pioneer Run. It successfully completed the Pioneer Run in 2017. The machine also comes with a V5C Registration Certificate, a bespoke trailer and a paddock stand.