Monday, February 19, 2024

Serpollet Easter Egg

G N Georgano A Motor Racing Camera 1894-1916, David and Charles, 1976

 Leon Serpollet snapped at 52 mph in his steam-powered racer at Bexhill in 1902. The streamlined car was known as Easter Egg. It went on to set the world speed record of 72 mph the same year at the Promenade at Nice.

Leon and his brother Henri Serpollet invented and developed the flash tube steam generator through the 1880s and patented the device in 1896.

Virtual steam car museum


4 comments:

rats said...

What a beautiful thing. I wonder what the body panels were made from. Wood steamed on a form, maybe?

Mister G said...

I think it looks a bit like a shoe! The sides could be plywood drawn in to a point but the hood portion looks like it's domed, a compound curve, not easily achieved in wood panels.

Anonymous said...

https://www.discoverbexhill.com/history/bexhill-motor-racing.php

Mister G said...

Thank you! Good history site and another informative view of the Serpollet car.