On loan from the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), the DARRACQ (20th century), owned by the Alves Ferreira Montalvão family, Chaves, Outeiro-Seco, is temporarily on display.
It is a break-type vehicle, imported from France in 1901 and shipped as an agricultural implement through the port of Figueira da Foz. The gearbox has 3 forward gears and one reverse gear. It has a foot and hand brake, wheels with metal rims, rubber tires and wax candles.
It was the first car to travel by road from Porto to Chaves! It was said that “the devil was coming” as the vehicle was moving without being pulled by mules. It reached a top speed of 50/60 km per hour!
Luís Montalvão, son of the owner of the aforementioned car, visited the National Coach Museum, on February 16, 1935. The visit was requested for the First Lady of Portugal, Maria do Carmo Ferreira da Silva Carmoa, who was accompanied by an illustrious entourage from Chaves, her hometown.
The names of the participants are registered in the Museum’s Book of Honor; a document that allows perpetuating the History and memories of the museum.
