A photo album depicting the pioneering days of the motor car has been acquired by the National Motor Museum Trust.

The album shows pictures of the 1,000 Mile Trial of 1900, which is seen as a pivotal moment in motoring history.

One of those taking part in the event was John Montagu, father of the current Lord Montagu, who founded the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire.

The pictures were taken by the event's official photographer Albert Argent Archer who had been appointed by the trial's organisers, the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland.

The trial started from London and went through Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Derby, Kendal, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and back to London. It began on April 23 and ended on May 12 There were 83 entries, of which 65 actually started. By Edinburgh, 51 were still running, but only 35 vehicles made it back to London.

They included an 1899 Daimler driven by Montagu, who was awarded a bronze medal for his efforts. The Daimler was subsequently restored by the National Motor Museum, where it is now on display.

The gold medal for the 1900 trial went to Charles Rolls who, with Henry Royce, founded Rolls-Royce.

Mandy Schaller, curator of photography for the museum's trust, said: ''This album of original prints by Albert Argent Archer, a very influential figure in early transport photography, is important not just because of its coverage of the 1,000 Mile Trial, but also because it depicts John Montagu competing in the event with his 1899 Daimler.''

The album will be archived within the museum collection and, once digitised, copies of the prints will be available to purchase online at www.motoringpicturelibrary.com