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The Bédélia of 1910 was the first of the French cyclecars. Low-built and very light, unlike earlier attempts to provide a truly popular car, the Bedelia could carry two passengers in tandem. The rear passenger controlled the steering, which was of the crude centre-pivot variety, and at first he also changed speed. The power unit of the Bedelia for sale was a single-cylinder in any one of three sizes from 3½ to 5½hp, or else a V-twin of 10hp. Transmission was by belts, providing two forward speeds. Cyclecars waned in popularity after World War 1, giving way to the light car, or miniature big car, but the Bédélia was longer-lived than most. Postwar Bedelia models had normal seating arrangements and three forward speeds, but the choice of a single or 2-cylinder engine was still available. In 1920 the founders, Henri Bourbeau and Robert Devaux, sold the Bedelia business to one of their agents, M. Binet, who had the car built for him by L. Mahieux et Cie.
Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN
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