French Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Gautier-Wehrlé Motorcycles

Built steam-powered automobiles in 1894 and later motor bicycles, and tricycles with flat-twin petrol engines. The company name was originally Rossel, Gautier et Wehrlé, and changed to Société Continentale d'Automobiles in 1896.

Their first petroleum bicycle appeared in 1898, and their engines were employed by Échard & Cie in 1903. They also built powered tricycles, automobiles and electric cars.

Kits were offered to convert the motor bicyclettes to tricycles.

Charles Gautier left the firm in 1902 and founded Charles Gautier et Cie where he built a variety of voiturettes and automobiles powered by engines from De Dion Bouton, Aster and Mutel. The venture ceased in 1903. The Gautier reappeared at the 1907 Paris Motor Show but nothing followed.

Sources: Wikipedia; Bourdache pp 48, 54, 69; Autopasion18.com.

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