Ader (France) - AllCarIndex

Ader was a French automobile manufacturer founded by aviation pioneer Clément Ader in 1900. The company initially operated under the name Ste Industrielle des Téléphones-Voitures Système Ader in Levallois-Perret, Seine, before rebranding to Société Ader in 1904. Ader's background in telecommunications and aviation significantly influenced his automotive endeavors, as he had previously established a successful telephone company and conducted early experiments in aviation.

The company's first automobile was a 904cc 6-horsepower V-twin light car, which featured a chain drive, tubular frame, and tonneau body. In 1901, Ader introduced a new model with a 7-horsepower engine and a channel steel frame. By 1902, he developed a 4-cylinder engine by coupling two of his V-twin engines, which laid the groundwork for his innovative designs. Notably, Ader created a 3616cc V8 engine for his Paris-Madrid racing cars in 1903, marking it as the first V8 engine used in a car, although it was never utilized in production vehicles.

Throughout its operation, Ader produced various models, including a 12-horsepower V-twin and a shaft-driven motorcycle branded as Moto-Cardan. The company transitioned to vertical engines in 1907, offering models with 16/20 and 28/32 horsepower. However, this year marked the end of Ader's automobile production, although he continued to manufacture V4 engines for motorboats and supplied engines to other manufacturers, including Royal Enfield in England. Ader cars were also marketed in England under the name Pegasus.