Jeantaud

It was the brainchild of Charles Jeantaud, a coachbuilder who built his first electric carriage in 1881.

Among the vehicles he constructed was the first car to set a land speed record at 63.15 km/h (39.24 mph), driven by Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat, as well as coupes and hansom cabs; in these the driver sat high, and to the rear.

[1] The 1899 Jeantaud Duc Profilée was powered by a 26.8 kW (35.9 hp) electric engine.

The car weighed around 1,400 kg (3,100 lb) and transmitted its power to the rear wheels through a chain-drive gearbox.

The Profilée was designed to be more aerodynamic than its older brother, featuring pointed ends on both the front and back, which allowed it to break the record top speed of 79 km/h (49 mph) of its less aerodynamic rival the GCA Dogcart on 4 March 1899, achieving a speed of 92 km/h (57 mph).