De Dietrich Type SM

De Dietrich was a long-established industrial conglomerate which diversified into automobile manufacturing in 1897, initially building cars under license from other designers. Operations were restructured in 1905 when the automobile business was spun off and renamed Lorraine Dietrich. The new company focused on large, luxury and race cars and built a reputation for advance engineering and high-performance vehicles. It also established a fledgling aero engine manufacturing business.

In the post WWI period, as with so many luxury car marques, Lorraine Dietrich struggled in the rapidly changing market conditions and the De Dietrich family sold its shares in the company in 1928, with the name being changed simply to Lorraine. It was taken over by the Société Générale Aéronautique, focusing on aero engine production, with car manufacturing ending in 1935.

The original De Dietrich company, however, continues today as a successful global business.

About this vehicle

Dating, we believe, from 1903, this model was the result of the collaboration between Lorraine Dietrich and the partnership of Léon Turcat and Alphonse Méry. It was originally owned by Sir George McKenzie of Tempsford Park. When Richard Shuttleworth bought the car, it was in the style of a four-seater body, but he converted it to a ‘racing’ two-seater, and in 1930 competed in the ‘Old Crocks’ race at Brooklands, lapping at 75mph.

It has completed the London-Brighton run on numerous occasions, the first in 1929. Shuttleworth engineers undertook a major restoration of the car in 2015/16 and it has since successfully completed the Brighton run.

Specification