Amédée Bollée (France)

Amédée is a historical French automobile brand founded by Amédée Bollee fils in Le Mans. The Bollee family had a long-standing tradition in bell founding, dating back to the 1820s. Three notable family members were involved in the automotive industry: Amédée père (1844–1917), Amédée fils (1867–1926), and his brother Léon (1870–1913). Amédée père was recognized as a pioneer in steam carriage construction, creating notable vehicles such as L’Obéissante in 1873 and the four-wheeled Marie-Anne in 1879.

The first vehicle produced by Amédée fils, with his father's assistance, was a steam mail coach built in 1885. This was followed by a smaller steam carriage of his own design. In 1889, he developed a petrol engine intended for airships, but it was not until 1896 that he began offering petrol cars for sale. His initial model was a 6hp car featuring a horizontal twin engine and belt drive, which participated in the 1896 Paris-Marseilles-Paris Race, although it was eliminated due to an accident.

Production of Amédée cars expanded in 1897 when Baronde Turckheim licensed the manufacturing of these vehicles at the De Dietrich factory in Germany, and Leesdorfer acquired a license for Austria. The cars gained attention in racing, with one model featuring a streamlined body competing in the 1898 Paris-Amsterdam Race. By 1904, the brand transitioned to vertical four-cylinder engines, leading to a more conventional design. The Type E, produced from 1907 to 1914, included advanced features such as a steering column gear change and hydraulic tappets, which would later be adopted by Rolls-Royce.

Amédée cars were known for their exclusivity and high price, attracting a clientele that included aristocrats and nobility. Production was limited, with Amédée stating that he manufactured no more than 25 to 30 cars in good years. The Type E saw just over 200 units produced, and production was halted during World War I, during which Amédée Bollee shifted to manufacturing shells and converting cars into ambulances. A few Type F models were completed post-war, but recognizing the limited demand for luxury cars in the changing market, Bollee transitioned to producing piston rings, a venture that proved successful. The company, now known as Société Mécanique de Précision du Maine, remains in the hands of the Bollee family.