De Dion-Bouton Engine, circa 1900

Jules-Albert de Dion and George Bouton initially set out to build steam-powered automobiles, but they were soon convinced that gasoline was the future. Their company's one-cylinder gasoline engine, introduced in 1895, was perhaps the first high-speed, lightweight internal combustion engine -- operating at around 2,000 r.p.m. and weighing 40 pounds. De Dion-Bouton supplied engines to other automakers throughout the world.