Amédée Bollée

Amédée père manufactured his first steam vehicle L'Obéissante (The Obedient) in 1873 and made the first road trip between Paris and Le Mans in 18 hours.

[4] In 1878 Amédée père designed La Mancelle, which is regarded as the first automobile to be put into series production, 50 being manufactured in all.

Amédée père had derived from La Mancelle different vehicles that he delivered in a variety of styles of bodywork such as: limousine, coach, omnibus etc.

The rear of the vehicle was designed to receive the piston engine, this time rejected near the boiler in order to enlarge the passenger cabin.

La Rapide grouped the boiler, the engine and the controls at the front of the vehicle, thus making it possible for it to be driven by a single operator.

Notre-Dame of Saigon with bells of Bollée [ 1 ]
Carillonneur Brian Swager plays the historic carillon of Amédée Bollée at the Perpignan Cathedral .
L'Obéissante photographed in 1875
La Mancelle of 1878
La Marie-Anne in 1879
La Rapide in 1881