Thanks to its partnership with Motul, the Fondation du patrimoine has been providing since 2008 its financial support to 23 projects to safeguard and showcase the motorised road vehicle heritage. To take this mission even further, the two structures decided to launch in August 2014 the Motul – Fondation du patrimoine Grand Prix. The prize money is 20,000 euros for cars and 10,000 for motorcycles. The first National Motorcycle Prize was handed on Friday 20 November on the Motul booth at the salon Moto Légende, by Hervé Amelot, Motul's President of the Management Board, and François-Xavier Bieuville, Director General of the Fondation du patrimoine. The prize-winning project concerns a Peugeot quadricycle from 1902, owned by the collector Alain Cortot, the only model worldwide.
The historic log-book described this vehicle as half-way between a 'mere motorcycle and a light car, more comfortable than the former and more affordable than the latter.' Its manufacturer claimed that the vehicle was capable of reaching 'speeds between 15 and 45 km/h and that it could climb hills at a good speed, with a load of 200 kilos'. Its 4-stroke water-cooled engine delivered 4.5 hp. This quadricycle will be completely restored in 2016-2017.
The Motul – Fondation du patrimoine Grand Prix will again be in the limelight at the handing of the National Car Prize at the beginning of February at the Retromobile Show.
