The Obéissante steam-powered omnibus

In 1873 Amédée Bollée, a bell-founder, built a steam-powered motor vehicle that could carry 12 passengers, a pilot and a driver. Called L’Obéissante (The Obedient One) on account of its highly responsive steering mechanism, it was later presented as the first high-speed automobile. The vehicle's tubular boiler, chain-drive transmission and pair of V-shaped two-cylinder engines enabled it to travel at a speed of 30 km/h with peaks of 40 km/h and to climb inclines of 12%. On 9 October 1875 Bollée drove his creation 230 kilometres between Le Mans and Paris in 18 hours, including rest breaks. He received a hero's welcome in Paris, but the mounted constabulary were not so pleased: they gave him 75 speeding tickets. However, he never had to pay any.