Roi-des-Belges

Roi-des-Belges or tulip phaeton was a popular car body style for luxury motor vehicles in the early 1900s. It was a double phaeton with exaggerated bulges suggestive of a tulip.^[1]^[2] The rear bulges accommodated two corner seats like tub armchairs which were accessed from the rear by a central door with a small fold-down seat.^[3]

The Roi-des-Belges style began with a 1901 40 hp Panhard et Levassor with a Rothschild body commissioned by Leopold II of Belgium, Roi des Belges.^[4] The style was suggested by Leopold's mistress, Cléo de Mérode.^[2]^[4]

The style and the name Roi-des-Belges were used on many makes of the time, including Mototri Contal, Spyker,^[5] and Renault ^[6] and by other coachwork builders.

References

^ Gartman, David (1994). "Early development of the automotive form". Auto opium:a social history of American automobile design. Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-415-10571-2. Retrieved 2012-03-17. Initially commissioned by King Leopold of Belgium, this elegant body had wide, bulging sides and a rear of double-reversed curves reminiscent of a tulip. This spacious body was popular on the expensive makes on both sides of the Atlantic, while the simple side-entrance tonneau or double phaeton was placed on less costly cars.
^ ^a ^b Bird, Anthony (1967). "Bodywork and Accessories". Early Motor Cars. London UK: George Allen & Unwin. p. 139. A new name, the Roi des Belges, was introduced into coachbuilding circles and was used to distinguish an opulently curving, tulip-like form which, if executed really well on a big enough scale, could have a superb effect.
^ See, for example "1902 De Dietrich 16hp car".
^ ^a ^b Burgess-Wise, David (27 Mar 2001). "A good idea at the time: Roi des Belges body style". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2012-03-14. "Why not make the seats of the car like these chairs?" she suggested, and the King was captivated.
^ Andre Ritzinger (2009-01-26). "Spyker: one century of exotic cars - page 2 of 14". Ritzsite.nl. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
^ "Renault Type BH 50 hp Roi de Belges 1909 for sale". PreWarCar. Retrieved 2012-03-18.

External links

Roi-des-Belges body, 1907, unrestored. Note form of access to rear seat

This article about a brass-era automobile produced between 1905 and 1915 is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Gartman27-1] Gartman, David (1994). "Early development of the automotive form". Auto opium:a social history of American automobile design. Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-415-10571-2. Retrieved 2012-03-17. Initially commissioned by King Leopold of Belgium, this elegant body had wide, bulging sides and a rear of double-reversed curves reminiscent of a tulip. This spacious body was popular on the expensive makes on both sides of the Atlantic, while the simple side-entrance tonneau or double phaeton was placed on less costly cars.

[Bird139-2] Bird, Anthony (1967). "Bodywork and Accessories". Early Motor Cars. London UK: George Allen & Unwin. p. 139. A new name, the Roi des Belges, was introduced into coachbuilding circles and was used to distinguish an opulently curving, tulip-like form which, if executed really well on a big enough scale, could have a superb effect.

[3] See, for example "1902 De Dietrich 16hp car".

[WiseTelegraph-4] Burgess-Wise, David (27 Mar 2001). "A good idea at the time: Roi des Belges body style". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2012-03-14. "Why not make the seats of the car like these chairs?" she suggested, and the King was captivated.

[5] Andre Ritzinger (2009-01-26). "Spyker: one century of exotic cars - page 2 of 14". Ritzsite.nl. Retrieved 2012-03-18.

[6] "Renault Type BH 50 hp Roi de Belges 1909 for sale". PreWarCar. Retrieved 2012-03-18.

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