One hundred years later and the cars are still on the road - a bit more expensive, but as much of a curiosity as ever.
The Irish Centenary Rally which began yesterday from the Museum of Irish Transport, Killarney, on its 1,000mile tour of Ireland was given a send-off by a car that took part in the 1901 rally.
Over the next week 80 cars from the Wolseley Car Club of Ireland, the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club and the Royal Irish Automobile Club will re-enact the two-week journey of the original 16 cars. They will take in the west coast and Sligo and cross to Carrickmacross.
A 1901 Argyll, now in the Transport Museum in Killarney, took part in the original rally. The most expensive car yesterday was a 1929 Mercedes valued today at £800,000.
Buicks, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys are also taking part.