Elan (France) - AllCarIndex

SlidesAutomobiles Elan was a French automobile manufacturer based in Paris, active from 1898 to 1900. The company specialized in producing voiturettes, which were small, lightweight cars popular in the early days of motoring.

Elan's vehicles were powered by a single-cylinder De Dion-Bouton engine, which was a common choice among early automobile manufacturers due to its reliability and performance. The power from the engine was transmitted to the rear axle via a chain drive system. This design was typical of the era and contributed to the vehicle's simplicity and ease of use.

In addition to its production in France, some models were manufactured under license in Belgium by a company named Germain. In 1900, Elan introduced a more advanced model that featured two single-cylinder De Dion engines, each driving a rear wheel independently. This innovation represented an early attempt at improving vehicle performance and handling.

Despite its brief existence, SlidesAutomobiles Elan contributed to the development of early automotive technology during a formative period in the industry.