Cambier (France) - AllCarIndex

Ets Gambier, based in Lille, Nord, France, began its operations in the late 19th century, initially specializing in air-compressing equipment. The company transitioned into the automotive industry, producing its first vehicles in the late 1890s. These early cars featured rear-mounted engines and were manufactured under license in Malines, Belgium.

In 1897, Ets Gambier produced a notable vehicle, a coach equipped with a 30-horsepower, three-cylinder horizontal engine, intended for service in Algeria. This model was likely a unique creation, as by 1900, the company had shifted to manufacturing cars with two-cylinder horizontal engines, offering models with 5 and 8 horsepower. Among the body styles available at that time was a closed "petit omnibus" built on the 8-horsepower chassis. The company also advertised vehicles with three- and four-cylinder engines, the latter possibly being commercial vehicles, as Ets Gambier gained a reputation for producing buses and fire engines.

In 1901, Ets Gambier began producing cars under license from Eugène Mathieu, a French automotive pioneer who operated in Belgium. The models manufactured by Gambier included a 6-horsepower belt-drive voiturette and chain-driven cars with 8 and 12 horsepower. By 1902, the company modernized its offerings, introducing front-mounted engines and shaft drive systems. Production of the 8 and 12-horsepower models continued until the company ceased car manufacturing a few years later.