Thursday 11th September 1879

Born on this day, Louis Hervé Coatalen, French automobile engineer who after working for De Dion-Bouton, Clément-Bayard and Panhard-Levassor became chief engineer with the Humber Car Company and then with Sunbeam. He became heavily involved in land speed record attempts including the successful 1000HP car of 1927 and the failed ‘Silver Bullet’ of 1930.