IT cost only £168 in 1904 and has a less-than blistering top speed of 25mph.
But one of the oldest and rarest Notts-produced cars has just changed hands for £48,000.
The Humberette Royal Beeston – a 6.5 horse power two-seater – was built at Beeston in 1904.
It was sold after an auction at Bonhams in London on Friday afternoon. 0211
At least 500 Humberettes were built in the early 1900s but the model sold on Friday is one of only about 30 which survived.
Its sale by a South Yorkshire owner attracted considerable interest in motoring history circles.
Malcolm Jeal (corr), a veteran Car Club enthusiast, said: "They are nice little cars, very well made and the first volume-produced car in the United Kingdom."
The Humberette Royal Beeston cost 160 guineas new – £168 in modern money – and still has its original number plate – AP 413.
The vehicles were built in a factory set up by Thomas Humber who started out as a cycle maker in 1868.
He went on to make motorcycles and cars and ran a factory in Coventry.
Bonhams said: "By January 1904 it was announced that almost 500 of these light cars had been built and a Royal Warrant was awarded in 1904 by King Edward VII.
"The new and significantly more powerful 6.5 horse power, 773cc models introduced that year and built at Beeston, became 'Royal Beeston' Humberettes and by now were equipped with a three forward speed and reverse gearbox.
"The Beeston models were superior in various respects to the Coventry-built cars."
The model sold on Friday spent much of its life in south Yorkshire.
There it was owned at different times by Harry Gough, of Goldthorpe, Mexborough, garage proprietor Frank Harrison, and near neighbour Raymond Nelson.
Mr Harrison discovered the significance of the car in 1955 and restored it.
It failed to meet its reserve price in the auction but went for £48,000 after a deal was struck later in the afternoon.
It had been hoped it would go for £55,000 to £65,000.
