Delamare-Deboutteville

It seems incontestable[citation needed] that Delamare-Deboutteville did build the first four-wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion (IC) four-stroke engine running on gas oil, preceding the model developed by Karl Benz.

In addition, earlier experiments were made with IC-engined vehicles in Switzerland (de Rivaz), France (Lenoir), and Austria (Marcus).

From this experience, Delamare-Deboutteville developed large engines up to 7,000 hp (5,200 kW), which he presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889 where he won the first prize.

[5] He created in Carantec in the Bay of Morlaix and in the Aber Benoît (Finistère) an oyster farm which still exists, and left a collection of birds[5] and some philosophical studies.

[6] His home town of Fontaine-le-Bourg contains a memorial plaque celebrating the first journey using an internal combustion engine,[2] and a street in the city of Rouen is named for him.