London: A 127-year-old steam-powered car, officially the world's oldest running vehicle, has been put up for auction and is expected to fetch up to 1.6 million pounds (around $2.48 million).

The De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux was built in France in 1884 for the Count De Dion, 12 years before Henry Ford manufactured his first car, The Sun reported.

It was nicknamed "La Marquise" after the count's mother. It is nine feet long and weighs around 950 kg.

Fuelled by bits of paper, wood and coal, the car takes 45 minutes to build up steam to drive, reaching a top speed of 61 km per hour.

De Dion sold the car in 1906 to French army officer Henri Doriol.

The Doriol family owned the car for 81 years but failed to get it functioning after it lost fittings following the First World War. In 1987, it was bought by motor expert Tim Moore who got the car up and running.



 

 

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