Description

The Leon Bollee “Voiturette” first appeared in France in 1895.  The vehicle was created by Leon Bollee who was a son of the most important pioneer of steam road vehicles in France; Amedee Bollee pere. Powered by its air-cooled, single cylinder 650cc (3hp) engine and using hot-tube ignition and three forward gears, the Voiturette was at the time the fastest petrol-engined vehicle on the road.  The vehicle had a tubular frame with a steel footwell at the front to protect passengers feet from puddles on the road, the driver sat at the rear. in 1899 the vehicle was superseded by a 4-wheeler vehicle and in 1901 the design rights were sold to Darracq.  Even though the Leon Bollee name temporarily disappeared (re emerging in 1903 - 1933) the name “Voiturette” lived on.  Leon Bollee was the first person in France to create a small petrol car and so he called it “Voiturette”, distinguishing it from steam powered vehicles.  The name however was taken up by both the trade and public in France as a name in general for a small light car and so it continued to be used.