Léon Bollée Automobiles
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Founder | Léon Bollée |
| Defunct | 1931 |
| Headquarters | Le Mans , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
Léon Bollée Automobiles was a French enterprise established by Léon Bollée in Le Mans with the purpose of manufacturing the "Voiturette."
Bollée family marques
Three distinct automotive marques were developed by the Bollée family:
- Steam-powered vehicles created by Amédée Bollée (the father), produced from 1873 to 1885.
- Gasoline-powered automobiles designed by Amédée Bollée (the son), produced between 1896 and 1923.
- Automobiles branded under Léon Bollée, manufactured from 1895 until 1931.
Léon Bollée Automobiles
The initial "Voiturette" designed by Léon Bollée in 1895 was a three-wheeled tandem featuring a single-cylinder engine delivering 3 HP and utilizing a belt drive system. While several hundred units were manufactured by Hurtu & Diligeon, only prototype versions were constructed at the Le Mans facility.
Following the removal of speed limits in Britain in 1896, the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run witnessed the Bollée brothers securing first and second places driving their vehicles.
In 1899, Léon Bollée unveiled a four-wheeled automobile equipped with independent suspension; its engine design was subsequently adopted by Darracq in 1900.
A newly established factory in Le Mans (1903) began producing two models powered by four-cylinder engines: one delivering 28 HP (4.6 L) and another with 45 HP (8 L). By 1907, six-cylinder powerplants were introduced, and by 1909, a four-cylinder model rated at 10/14 HP became available.
The 1910 range expanded to nine models, including two with engines exceeding 10 liters in capacity. By 1911, annual production reached approximately 600 automobiles.
After Léon Bollée passed away in 1913, his widow took over company management. During World War I, production pivoted primarily to ammunition and machine guns alongside limited vehicle manufacturing. Full-scale automobile production recommenced in 1919 with the Type H model (2612 cc), followed by the introduction of a six-cylinder engine of 3918 cc in 1922.
Morris-Léon Bollée
In 1924, facing difficulties entering the French market due to elevated import tariffs and strong competition, Morris Motors Limited acquired the Le Mans factory to manufacture vehicles akin to the Morris Cowley and Morris Oxford bullnose. This initiative was marketed under the name "Morris-Léon Bollée".
Under new management from Morris directors based at Cowley, production started toward the end of 1925. The initial offering, Type MLB, incorporated a Hotchkiss engine producing 12 HP from a 2.5-liter displacement. In 1928, an 18 HP straight-eight engine of three liters was introduced; however, only six units were produced.
Despite difficulties in sourcing components, output reached around 150 cars weekly. Nevertheless, limited consumer acceptance of imported vehicles led to declining sales and production ceased in 1928.
Unable to sustain profitability, Morris shuttered operations in 1931 and disposed of remaining inventory through a partnership arrangement, bringing an end to the Léon Bollée automobile brand.