What exactly is this puzzling Belle Époque coupé?

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Old photographs showing a motor car in combination with ladies can always rely on having our attention here at PreWarCar.com, transporting us back a century or more with ease. So this one, undoubtedly from the Belle Époque and, we think, French, fits the bill. But there may be a little more to it, as the car, with its small and tall body, seems so odd to us.

Why French? That is just our first thought, mainly because the style made us think of Madame Decourcelle’s famous Parisian taxi seen here before. But there are many differences, which rather confuse us. The bonnet is short and strangely interrupted by a luggage compartment. And then the relatively tall body itself is placed far back on the chassis.

As the driver, Mme Decourcelle was seated where there is the luggage compartment on this one. So where is the steering wheel? If you look very closely, you may spot what we believe to be a glimpse of it in the cabin, just behind that door. That leaves room for two; the dogs must have been placed on the floor or between driver and passenger. What does that make of this unusual early coupé? Please enlighten us.

Words: Jeroen Booij; Picture: Matt Shepherd

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