Bourassa (automobile)

The Bourassa was a series of one-off automobiles constructed by Montreal engineer Emile-Henri Bourassa (1877-1956) between 1899 and 1926.[1] These vehicles ranged in size from runabouts to a 7-passenger tourer, as well as two cars designed for the Ledoux Carriage Company in 1914.[1]

Bourassa's final car used a Rickenbacker chassis, and featured an L-head engine with a special manifold and electrically heated carburetor, and transmission of his own design.[2] The car gave excellent fuel economy of 31 miles per gallon, but no investors were prepared to give Bourassa the finances needed to get the car into production.[2] After six years of trying to get the car into production, Bourassa had the car demolished in 1932.[2]

Aside from his vehicles, Bourassa's main claim to fame was that Louis Chevrolet lived with Bourassa for eight months after his arrival in Canada from France.[1]

References

1. Georgano, Nick (2000). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: Stationery Office. p. 1792. ISBN 0117023191.
2. Durnford, Hugh (1973). Cars of Canada. Canada: McClelland and Stewart. p. 384. ISBN 0771029578.

External links

• Photo of 1899 car
• Photo of 1926 car Archived 2005-10-17 at the Wayback Machine