Darracq Flying Fifteen History

For the 1904 model year Darracq abandoned the flitch-plated wood chassis that was still common practice and introduced the first pressed-steel chassis formed from a single sheet of steel. Onto it went a 3-litre four-cylinder engine rated at 15 hp — hence 'Flying Fifteen' — giving a top speed in the region of 90 km/h (56 mph). Contemporary observers noted that 'there was nothing outstanding in its design,' but that 'every part was in such perfect balance and harmony' that the car simply worked supremely well in every department.

The Flying Fifteen's quality and reliability translated directly into sales. Across its production run the model captured approximately ten percent of the entire French automobile market — a remarkable share for a single model in an era of dozens of competing manufacturers. It remained essentially unchanged through three model years, a mark of how right the original specification was.

VCC (Veteran Car Club of Great Britain) dated examples, eligible for the London to Brighton Run, still appear regularly at auction, testament to both the numbers built and their durability. The model established Darracq's reputation for sound engineering at a competitive price — a contrast to the more exotic and financially ruinous projects that would follow.