Kings and Cars Part 4 - Albert I of Belgium

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Albert I was King of Belgium from 1909 until 1934 and is best remembered from his role in WWI when he was called the King-Soldier, as he stood nearby his forces during the whole first World War. His interest in automobiles was already triggered before that when he was still a Prince.

It seems like he owned a motorized tricycle and his personal number plate '1371' appears on two pictures that we found. The oldest car could be a Gobron-Brillié, but is possibly a Belgian license-built Nagant-Gobron. Dated around the turn of the century, we found a reference saying this was 'the first car of Prince Albert'. The other car with that number plate is an approx. 1907 Pipe, made in Belgium as well. The scene for that picture is a so-called 'paper-hunt', where strings of paper had to be chased to find the way. The King himself is not in the car, but his wife is.

Another picture of Albert, before he was King, was taken at the 1907 Semaine d'Ostende, where Baron Pierre de Caters is explaining details about Rigal's Darracq. On the front of the car is the young Prince Leopold, later to become King Leopold III.

When finally King of Belgium, it seems he had developed a special liking towards the Pipe marque, as we found at least a 30 hp and a 50 hp model mentioned, often with beautiful coachwork from another Belgian supplier, the Snutsel brothers in Brussels.

In wartime, we often see the King in the ultimate Belgian motorcar of that period, the majestic Excelsior, as in 1917, accompanied by the King of Italy, Victor-Emmanuel III.

Like Leopold II, Albert was a keen visitor of car shows. At the 1925 Brussels Salon de l'Automobile, we see him at the Speedsport stand, which was a souped-up Ford for racing.

But also this King had the ultimate honour of having a car model named after him, the Excelsior Albert I, launched around 1926. It was an improved version of the Adex of the early twenties and was regarded as a car of the highest quality and esteem. Extremely suitable for a King!

Thanks to Gerard Ghesquière (Targa Florio O.C. Belgium) for the Speedsport picture.

Words by Nick Jonckheere.

Next week: 'Kings and Cars' Part 5.

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