Compagnie Nationale Excelsior

In 1907, however, the company made headlines with the Adex, powered by a six-cylinder side-valve engine with a capacity of nine litres.

In 1912, the car took second place in the French Grand Prix, and when the Belgian royal family purchased an Excelsior, the advertising value proved considerable.

A second version of the Adex came out in 1920, with a smaller 4767 cc, six-cylinder engine including an overhead camshaft.

The Adex inspired the design of the later Excelsior Albert I, which was powered by a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 5346 cc.

An Excelsior Albert I finished 6th and another 9th in the 1923 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.