One of the most celebrated marques of the Veteran and Edwardian period, the Rochet-Schneider was named after its founders, Edouard Rochet and his father, as well as Théophile Schneider. Founded in Lyon in 1889, the company started out building single-cylinder cars before the turn of the 20th century and Rochet-Schneider announced a range of two and four-cylinder cars in 1901 at the Paris Salon. Taking inspiration from Mercedes, as they were producing the most revolutionary cars of the time, Rochet-Schneider followed in their footsteps and the cars quickly gained a comparable reputation for durability, reliability, and speed. Whilst choosing not to get involved with city-to-city racing, Rochet Schneider had a formidable reputation in hill climbs, winning the ‘Tourisme de Nice’ and ‘Aix-le-Bains’ events.

On offer here is an extremely rare, if not unique survivor of the Model 2500 boasting the 16/22 HP 4.4-litre (100x140mm) four-cylinder engine, coupled to a four-speed gearbox with desirable double-chain drive and direct drive in top, and reverse. It had the most up-to-date pressed steel chassis, alongside five-seat side-entrance tonneau coachwork, which was the standard Rochet Schneider bodywork for 1904.

The car was initially sold in 1904 through the concessionaires M.Decultil, who exclusively dealt directly with the Rochet Schneider clients in France. Meanwhile in the UK, sales of Rochet-Schneiders were managed by Morgan Donne of Clerkenwell, with the 16/22 HP model costing a whopping £725, placing them firmly in the luxury automotive market of the day even above such names as Napier, and Panhard-Levassor. For 1904, the year the car on offer was constructed, 215 cars were said to have been built, with this being the 45th.

Originally delivered to Charles J Henri Besombes of Villiers-le-Bel, a commune just north of Paris, chassis number 2545 later moved south to Rouen in 1908. By the 1940s, the Rochet-Schneider was under the ownership of Roger Pichon of Clères, a small town located approximately 25 km north of Rouen. The car would remain in the Pichon family, who were well-known collectors that kept the car in their museum, through 1967. That year, it was imported to the UK where it has remained ever since.

Bob James imported the Rochet-Schneider into the UK, purchasing the car out of France without bodywork but otherwise complete, and photos from his ownership are on file showing the car as it was delivered to him. Always remaining in the hands of passionate veteran car enthusiasts in the UK since its importation, the car passed through the hands of Denis Wright, Peter Agg, and the Tierra Blanca Collection prior to its acquisition by the current owner in 1991.

A well-known, UK-based veteran car enthusiast, in 1991, the current owner of the Rochet-Schneider has used the car as its manufacturers intended and it has appeared in over one hundred veteran car rallies across the UK and Europe over the course of his thirty-three years of ownership. Never shying away from an adventure, the car was sometimes driven to European events by road rather than being trailed, and on occasion it has been driven over 300 miles in one day, speaking to the car’s remarkable reliability and ease of use. Capable of achieving 50 mph on the open road, it can easily be driven in modern traffic. This year, it has participated in the Royal Veteran Car Club Belgium’s ‘1900 Autotocht’ rally, the Royal Automobile Club’s Summer Run, as well as the Rallye des Ancêtres in Compiegne. In total, the car has participated in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run an impressive thirteen times.

The owner confirms, it has always been maintained to the highest standards and is ready to be driven and enjoyed at a moment’s notice. The engine was fully rebuilt in 2003 and the car has done approximately 7,000 miles since. Furthermore, the veteran specialists at Jonathan Wood Ltd in Essex have carried out over £21,000 worth of servicing in 2019, which included further work on the engine, the steering, and transmission, as well as fitting new front wheels and tyres. In addition to the car’s sizable history file, also on file is a certificate of dating from the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, number 1467 dated in 1969, a FIVA passport dated 2005, and a Vintage Sports-Car Club eligibility document dated 2011. The car retains a number of fabulous period-correct accessories, including Rejna Hanardini & Cie of Milan Brevetto self-generating acetylene parabolical oval headlights (type 55111). The oil side lights are Ducellier of Paris, with the rear brass oil lights by Oldfield Dependence. It is also fitted with a Dubrulle mechanical oiler (number 5734). Allowing for greater ease of use, a discreet and efficent electric starter has been fitted.

During the Royal Automobile Club’s Summer Run this year, the consignor was accompanied on the rally in the Rochet-Schneider by RM Sotheby’s veteran car collector, auctioneer, and enthusiast Malcolm Barber. Commenting on the performance of the car, Barber stated, “this car performs as well as it looks; powerful, agile, easy to handle from steering to braking, to gear changing and general maneuverability. It is commodious, with that luxury feel of a quality, well-engineered, early veteran four-cylinder motorcar.” Real praise from an expert.

Finally, in the case that a deal is agreed prior to Sunday, 3 November, the current owner of the car has offered to drive the car alongside its new owner in the 2024 RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, demonstrating the sheer usability of the car and offering a fantastic introduction to veteran car ownership.

Described in a section of the 1903 book Cars and How To Drive Them, written by R. Denys Dunas, he summarizes the driving experience, specifically comparing it to a Mercedes by succinctly saying, “In short, in the country, this car answers my every possible requirement, and when in town I have the secret satisfaction of feeling that I am driving the very smartest looking car of all the cars that turn into the park”.

The same can be said over 120 years later…especially upon turning into Hyde Park before dawn on the first Sunday of November.