DAIMLER VIS-A-VIS – year 1894

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DAIMLER VIS-A-VIS – year 1894

Manufacturer: Daimler Motor Company, Canstatt, Germany.

After the success of the Stahlradwagen car, by Daimler and Maybach, at the world exhibition in Paris in 1899. Daimler system vehicles wanted to be produced by another amateur - Monsieur Armand Peugeot, existing manufacturer of bicycles and steam vehicles. Daimler's close cooperation with French manufacturers was established, which initiated the development of the car industry in this country.

The French press contributed to this in no small extent. Year 1893 he was not the most successful for the Parisian press magnates. Pierre Giffard, editor-in-chief of the Petit Journal” he knew, that without some surprising sensation it will not gain new readers. The newspaper then announced the competition "for all steam-powered vehicles, gas, gasoline or electricity”.

22 July 1894 r. for driving on the route Paris - Rouen took off 14 petrol vehicles and 7 steam. Among them, Panhard-Levassor, Roger-Benz, Peugeot, DeDion. After four hours and forty minutes, Count de Dion reached the finish line first in Rouen on his steam powered vehicle 14,7 kW (ok. 20 KM). He was followed by two Peugeots with powerful engines 3 kW (4 KM). The fourth was Panhard-Levassor, led by Emil Levassor. Because it was difficult "steam tractor” de Diona, according to the spirit of the racing regulations, should be considered a family car, the race management presented the first equal prize to Peugeot and Panhard-Levassor.

Daimler also competed in the race and built a new car that same year (4-personal), named after the arrangement of the seats vis-a-vis. Interesting construction, it had a water-cooled 2-cylinder four-stroke engine with displacement 1040 cm3, developing maximum power 2,7 kW (3,6 KM) by 600 RPM. The driving force was transferred to the driven axle by means of sliding belt transmissions. The vehicle had four forward gears, a cat with full rubber hoops and developed maximum speed 22 km/h. The original chassis is today in the Daimler-Benz museum in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim.