Mystery race car at the 1912 Grand Prix ACF near Dieppe (UPD. Lion-Peugeot / René Thomas)

For several weeks already a French enthusiast is sending photos showing the pre-WWI Grand Prix track near Dieppe. Those who follow the photo-sharing pages may have seen several. Most striking were the two photos he uploaded just a few days ago. Showing the road track near Bailly-en-Campagne...... back in 1912. And the same piece of road this month. Very little has changed. To be absolutely sure we also visited google street view and amazingly so: same street, different day! Now only should find a way to identify this tail end of the 1912 GP car, Nr. 47 with super pointed rear sectione, nicely embedded spare wheel and a quick release filler cap both on Gauche and Droit. Photo number #25967. May we have your votes?

Originally published on July 8, 2015

Published:

Sunday January 2nd, 2022

John Bates

03 January 2022, 12:41

'Slick' tyres are nothing new, then? I refer to the spare!

Didier

02 January 2022, 22:19

Bonjour

c'est bien la voiture de René Thomas

merci pour vos articles
Didier

Unknown

08 July 2015, 08:02

The T.A.S.O. Mathieson book on the french GP shows a nice broadside photo of no. 47 which according to Mathieson was a Lion-Peugeot driven by René Thomas. The car's dates were given as a four cylinder engine with 78 x 156 mm, giving a capacity of 2.982 cc at a weight of 860 kg.

Unknown

08 July 2015, 07:58

There is a better pic of the car here - http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/photo-gallery/rene-thomas-french-gp

Unknown

08 July 2015, 07:54

According to this page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1912_French_Grand_Prix - #47 was the lion-Peugeot of Rene Thomas.

Unknown

08 July 2015, 07:33

This tail belongs to the Lion-Peugeot type L3 driven by René Thomas in the Coupe de l'Auto of 1912. This race was run concurrently with the Grand Prix. The Grand Prix was won by Boillot, which is common knowledge. The Coupe de l'Auto was won by Rigal on Sunbeam, finishing on third place in the Grand Prix (which is common knowledge in England). Thomas was forced to retire during the 7th lap because of engine problems.

Unknown

08 July 2015, 07:20

Hi,
Easy :-)
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b69203488/f1.zoom

Unknown

08 July 2015, 06:28

Lion-Peugeot driven by Rene Thomas

Unknown

08 July 2015, 04:25

Lion-Peugeot with René Thomas as driver
See Grand Prix Racing 1906-1914 by TASO Mathieson

Unknown

08 July 2015, 04:23

The tail belongs to Rene Thomas' Lion-Peugeot. Two years latter he won the Indianapolis 500 on a Delage.

Unknown

08 July 2015, 04:08

According to my records, car 47 was the Lion-Peugeot driven by Rene Thomas. He finished 16th overall and 7th in the 3 litre class

A better picture can be found at
http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/photo-gallery/rene-thomas-french-gp

Mystery race car at the 1912 Grand Prix ACF near Dieppe (UPD. Lion-Peugeot / René Thomas)

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