Avenue Léon Bollée

“A calculating mind behind the wheel?” I ask, gesturing towards Avenue Léon Bollée. This avenue, nestled in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, isn’t just a street. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of Léon Bollée, a name synonymous with innovation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Avenue Léon Bollée began its life in 1932, replacing a section of the old Thiers wall, specifically bastion number 88. The city of Paris decided to honor this remarkable inventor and automobile manufacturer. Now, let’s delve into the life of the man who lent his name to this avenue. Léon, born in Le Mans in 1870, wasn’t content with simply following in his father Amédée’s footsteps, although Amédée himself was a pioneering figure in the early days of automobiles. At the young age of 14, Léon designed a “vélocipède nautique,” a type of pedal boat. This early invention hinted at the ingenuity to come. Just five years later, he created a revolutionary mechanical calculator with over 3,000 pieces to help his father, a bell founder, with complex calculations. This marvel won him a first prize at the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition. But Léon’s true passion lay in automobiles. In 1896, he developed a three-wheeled vehicle with pneumatic tires, a novelty at the time, and powered by an engine designed by his brother, also named Amédée. He coined the term “voiturette” for this vehicle, a name that stuck, particularly because the front passenger seat earned it the nickname “Tue Belle-mère” or “Kill your mother-in-law”. That same year, Léon and his brother Camille, driving identical “voiturettes,” participated in the inaugural London to Brighton Emancipation Run. Léon emerged victorious. Two years later, he conquered the Critérium des Motocycle in France. By 1903, Léon Bollée was producing larger, four-cylinder cars, renowned for their quality and performance, and his company flourished. His contributions extended beyond automobiles. He co-founded the Aero-Club de la Sarthe in 1907 and, the following year, hosted Wilbur Wright in Le Mans, providing him with space to test his groundbreaking aircraft. Sadly, Léon’s innovative life was cut short by heart disease in 1913 at the age of 43. His widow continued the business until it was acquired by Morris Motors in 1922. The Morris-Léon Bollée cars, however, were not commercially successful, and production ceased in 1928. As we stand on Avenue Léon Bollée, we remember not just a street name, but a visionary whose inventions and contributions to the automotive world continue to resonate today. This avenue stands as a tribute to his enduring legacy.