this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2026
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HistoryPhotos

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HistoryPhotos is for photographs (or, if it can be found, film) of the past, recent or distant! Give us a little snapshot of history!

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Belgian race car driver Camille Jenatzy with his record-breaking electric car, La Jamais Contente, which exceeded 100 kph, 1899 (media.piefed.social)
submitted 6 days ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historyphotos@piefed.social
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[–] WesternInfidels@feddit.online 5 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Pretty wild to make that streamliner body and then stick the driver out in the breeze like an afterthought.

[–] dmention7@midwest.social 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I thought the same thing at first too, but I think in that photo he's sitting up on the edge of the "cockpit". I'll bet the actual driving position is further down inside the body with that wheel closer to shoulder level.

Edit: I would lose that bet! Found modern photo

[–] Yosmonkol@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago

If all we knew were horse drawn wagons and carriages this seating arrangement might seem more normal.

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Roll bars? Who needs ‘em!

[–] YellowParenti@lemmy.wtf 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Doesn't matter. gonna be thrown out the vehicle immediately anyway.

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

It still gives me flashbacks to the PC game Mafia. There was a mission in that game where you drove a 1930s era open wheel racing car, without roll bars or anything. It was super easy to take a corner too fast and roll the thing. Your body snapped like a twig every time!

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Needs to feel the wind in his hair