Le pneu Michelin a vaincu le rail 1905

This original 1905 chromolithographic poster by Ernest Montaut celebrates the dawn of the automobile age with bold drama and speed. Titled “Le pneu Michelin a vaincu le rail” (The Michelin tire has defeated the railway), it commemorates a remarkable feat: a Panhard automobile driven by Heath beat the fastest train in the world over a 600-kilometer route by 30 minutes.

In this thrilling composition, Montaut masterfully captures the velocity and danger of early car racing. Hurtling along winding roads, the open-top Panhard speeds past a steam train in the distance, its Michelin tires leaving a trail of motion. The two drivers, goggled and determined, embody the spirit of mechanical triumph and modern progress.

The poster was not just promotional—it was propaganda for progress, a clear message that Michelin’s pneumatic tires were superior to steel rails. As cars began challenging trains for speed and reliability, Michelin seized the opportunity to position itself as a visionary of the future.

Ernest Montaut (1879–1909), a pioneer of speed illustration, was known for his dynamic posters of races, planes, and automobiles. He was among the first to use techniques like speed lines and blurred motion to visualize movement in print—a revolutionary approach at the time.

Original Poster

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Heath in a Panhard car beats the world's fastest train by 30 minutes over 600km

Traces of folds, very important restorations