Compagnie Nationale Excelsior
Encyclopedia
Compagnie Nationale Excelsior, more simply known as Excelsior, was a Belgian car manufacturer established by Arthus de Coninck in Brussels
in 1903, The company first started to manufacture cars in 1904.
The first models were powered by a two or four-cylinder Aster
engine; this was considered nothing special however. In 1907, the company made the headlines with the Adex, powered by a six-cylinder side-valve engine with a capacity of nine litres. This cars chassis could be easily modified for Grand Prix
racing. In 1912, the car took second place in the French Grand Prix
, and when the Belgian Royal Family purchased an Excelsior, the advertising value proved considerable.
A second version of the Adex came out in 1920, with a smaller 4767 cc, six-cylinder engine including an overhead camshaft
. The Adex inspired the design of one of the best cars manufactured by Excelsior, the Albert I Excelsior. This model was powered by a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 5346 cc.
In 1929, the company was sold to its competitor Impéria
. Until 1932, the company was called Impéria-Excelsior. But on the same year, The name Excelsior was dropped.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1903, The company first started to manufacture cars in 1904.
The first models were powered by a two or four-cylinder Aster
Aster (auto parts company)
Aster was a French manufacturer of automobile parts; from 1900 to 1910 the company produced chassis, though it is not known if they built complete cars.The firm whose full name was Ateliers de Construction Mecanique l'Aster from St...
engine; this was considered nothing special however. In 1907, the company made the headlines with the Adex, powered by a six-cylinder side-valve engine with a capacity of nine litres. This cars chassis could be easily modified for Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
racing. In 1912, the car took second place in the French Grand Prix
French Grand Prix
The French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships....
, and when the Belgian Royal Family purchased an Excelsior, the advertising value proved considerable.
A second version of the Adex came out in 1920, with a smaller 4767 cc, six-cylinder engine including an overhead camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
. The Adex inspired the design of one of the best cars manufactured by Excelsior, the Albert I Excelsior. This model was powered by a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 5346 cc.
In 1929, the company was sold to its competitor Impéria
Imperia
Imperia may be:* Imperia , an Italian city* Province of Imperia, the Italian province of the above city of Imperia* IMPERIA, a vodka produced by Russian Standard* Imperia , a statue in Constance, Germany...
. Until 1932, the company was called Impéria-Excelsior. But on the same year, The name Excelsior was dropped.
External links
- Excelsior in 1923 Le mans-http://www.experiencelemans.com/en-us/dept_210.html
- Excelsior information (In French) -http://www.rvccb.be/PAGES/CONSTRUCTEURS%20LISTE/constructeurs%20E.html