De Dietrich Type SM

Originally an ironworks and later a manufacturer of locomotives and rolling stock, the large and sprawling De Dietrich company was caught up in the Franco-German border disputes of the mid-19th century. Following the Franco-Prussian war of 1871 its Alsace factory became part of a newly created Germany whilst a new plant was established in Lorraine on French soil under the management of Baron de Turckheim. Both locations were, from 1897, to manufacture automobiles that were the designs of other companies built under licence – the first being a model of Amedee Bollee’s instigation with twin-cylinder engine and belt drive.

Both French and German companies recognized the Bollee design was becoming outdated (a poor performance in the Paris-Berlin race of 1901 underlined this fact) and turned to building cars from different designers – De Dietrich of Germany to the Belgian Vivinus whilst De Dietrich, France, placed its faith in the Panhard-inspired Turcat-Mery from Marseilles. From 1902 the young Italian designer Ettore Bugatti was to have a hand in shaping the specification of the German company’s own (rather than licence-built) cars.

Despite the presence of Bugatti, the German branch of the ‘family’ was to cease automobile manufacture in 1904, whilst De Dietrich et Cie continued to grow making cars of their own design for the quality market. Such advancements as steel frames (replacing armoured wood), honeycomb radiators and mechanically operated inlet valves were introduced from 1903. However, discord between joint owners, the De Turckheim and De Dietrich families, resulted in the establishment of a new company, under De Turckheim control, to make all future cars with a Lorraine-Dietrich badge. 

Lorraine-Dietrich cars were produced until 1935. Today the name lives on with De Dietrich branded kitchen appliances.

About this vehicle

This car was first owned by Sir George McKenzie of Tempsford Park and originally fitted with a tonneau-style four seater body. It was registered to Richard Shuttleworth in November 1928, who fitted the present ‘racing’ body after he discovered it had once been raced (‘just for the challenge’) by the well-known Edwardian driver S.F. Edge. On an original racer from the early 1900s the mechanic’s seat would almost certainly have been lower for protection from dust and stones.

In June 1930 Richard and his friend Jimmy Edmunds competed in the ‘Old Crocks’ race at Brooklands, the De Dietrich lapping at 75mph. Richard used the 5.5 litre car around Old Warden, and created quite a stir when he drove through the centre of Biggleswade town at 55mph.

The car did its first London to Brighton Run in 1928, with Charles Martin driving and did four more runs before 1940. Post war it first ran on the event in 1954.

Specification