Auto Leger (France) - AllCarIndex

Auto Léger was a French automobile manufacturer active from 1904 to 1907, founded by V. Crepet in Lyons. The company produced a very limited number of vehicles, with each car being distinct in design. The most notable model was the first car, which featured a bonnet and mudguards sculpted to resemble the head and wings of a dragon, a design intended to intimidate pedestrians. This unique creation held the radiator in its claws, and its wings served as mudguards. The bonnet was constructed from bronze, making it exceptionally heavy, requiring three men to lift it.

The Auto Léger vehicles were powered by a 9-horsepower, 2-cylinder engine and were equipped with a 3-speed gearbox and shaft drive. The initial model was built with a tonneau body and was later converted into a light truck, which was exhibited at the 1904 Paris Salon. Other models included a chain-driven 2-seater and a shaft-driven 4-seater, the latter of which was sold to a local doctor. All vehicles were produced in a small workshop, where Crepet and his partner, M. Toussant, along with a staff of four men and an apprentice, operated. However, the partners eventually returned to their original business in silk, leading to the cessation of automobile production.