Turcat-Méry 45 HP

[Ferrer]

In 1909 the Automobile Club de Monaco (Sport Automobile Velocipedique Monegasque) started planning a car rally at the behest of Albert I, Prince of Monaco. The Monte Carlo Rally was to start at points all over Europe and converge on Monte Carlo. In January 1911 23 cars set out from 11 different locations and Rougier was among the nine who left Paris to cover a 1,020 kilometres (634 mi) route. The event was won by Henri Rougier in a Turcat-Méry 45 Hp. The rally comprised both driving and then somewhat arbitrary judging based on the elegance of the car, passenger comfort and the condition in which it arrived in the principality. The outcry of scandal when the results were published changed nothing, so Rougier was proclaimed the first winner.

(Source: wikipedia.org)

[henk4]

These old criteria would still apply to the Citroen DS that won once....

[ScionDriver]

45 HP in 1909, that was like 900 bhp today, wasn't it?

[Commodore GS/E]

45 HP in 1909, that was like 900 bhp today, wasn't it?

The Blitzen-Benz had more at nearly the same time . But basically, you are right.
I don't want to imagine doing >60 mph in this, though. It doesn't look very aerodynamic.

[ScionDriver]

The Blitzen-Benz had more at nearly the same time . But basically, you are right.
I don't want to imagine doing >60 mph in this, though. It doesn't look very aerodynamic.

Driving, let alone racing, was a whole other adventure back in the day.

[Ferrer]

45 HP refers to the puissance fiscale, or taxed power. Not the actual power of the engine. This was a relatively common method of naming prewar cars. The last car to bear its name according to it was the Citroen 2CV.