Bolide (France) - AllCarIndex

Bolide was a French automobile brand that operated from 1899 to 1907. The brand was founded by Ixon Lefebvre, who had previously entered the motor industry in 1896 with the LEO. The Bolide vehicles were characterized by their innovative engineering, initially featuring a horizontal-twin Pygmec engine. In 1900, Lefebvre introduced three models: an 8hp twin with a displacement of 2090cc, a 16hp twin of 5298cc, and a 40hp four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 11,693cc, which was primarily designed for racing.

In the early years, Bolide's production included a licensing agreement with the Belgian company SNOECK, which manufactured Bolide cars until 1902. The original drive system utilized a wide belt, which was later replaced by a chain drive in 1901. By 1902, Lefebvre shifted the focus of the brand towards more conventional vehicles, introducing models that featured an 8hp Dion-Bouton engine in the smaller cars, while larger models utilized engines from Aster and Tony Huber.

In 1905, Ixon Lefebvre departed from the company to establish a new brand named PR1MA. Following his departure, Bolide continued under the new ownership of the Société l'Auto Réparation, which produced three models: a 12hp monobloc four-cylinder, a 22hp four-cylinder, and a 35hp six-cylinder, all of which employed shaft drive.