Motor Scout
Encyclopedia
Motor Scout was the first armed petrol engine powered vehicle ever built. It was designed and built by British inventor F.R. Simms
in 1898. He constructed the vehicle by mounting a Maxim machine gun
on the front wheels bar of a De Dion-Bouton
quadricycle
. He also put an iron shield in front of the car for the driver's protection. The driver also operated the machine gun. The next vehicle designed by Simms, the Motor War Car
, can be considered the world's first real armoured car.
Frederick Richard Simms
Frederick Richard Simms was a British mechanical engineer, businessman, prolific inventor and motor industry pioneer. Simms coined the words "petrol" and "motorcar"...
in 1898. He constructed the vehicle by mounting a Maxim machine gun
Maxim gun
The Maxim gun was the first self-powered machine gun, invented by the American-born British inventor Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It has been called "the weapon most associated with [British] imperial conquest".-Functionality:...
on the front wheels bar of a De Dion-Bouton
De Dion-Bouton
De Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer and railcar manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1932. The company was founded by the Marquis Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton and his brother-in-law Charles Trépardoux....
quadricycle
Quadricycle
Quadricycle, quadracycle, quadcycle, quadrocycle refers to any vehicle with four wheels.More specifically the term may refer to:...
. He also put an iron shield in front of the car for the driver's protection. The driver also operated the machine gun. The next vehicle designed by Simms, the Motor War Car
Motor War Car
Simms' Motor War Car was the first armoured car ever built.It was designed by F.R. Simms and a single prototype was ordered in April 1899 It was built by Vickers, Sons & Maxim of Barrow on a special Coventry-built Daimler chassis with a German-built Daimler motor.Because of difficulties, including...
, can be considered the world's first real armoured car.