The first automobile to break the mile-a-minute barrier (in 1899) was an electric powered car called La Jamais Contente (Never Content.) Built by Amadée Bollée in 1882, it was driven by Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy to the record of 105.88 km/hr (almost 66 mph). The original is now found in Château de Compiègne, while a copy is at the Rétromobile Show in Paris. The actual museum is called the Musée National de la Voiture et du Tourisme (French National Museum of Cars and Touring), in the town of Compiègne.
The record setting, very aerodynamic (long before aerodynamics were common) machine is complete and original, missing only it's original batteries. The batteries are listed as Fulmen, a lead material. They used 100 cells, each rated for 2 Volts. The body was made of partinium (an alloy of aluminum, tungsten and magnesium) It used two Postel-Vinay motors at the rear of the vehicle, and these could be switched from series to parallel for acceleration and top speed. It used Michelin tires, 55 cm in diameter. The car weighed 1450 Kg as raced. (3200 lbs).
This vehicle was the “fastest in the world” from 1899 through 1902 when Léon Serpollet eclipsed the mark in a petrol powered car.
Here is a translation of the Château de Compiègne website:
http://72.14.205.132/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.musee-chateau-compiegne.fr/homes/home_id24350_u1l2.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DChateau%2Bde%2Bcompiegne%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dcom.ubuntu:en-US:unofficial%26hs%3DjfX&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhjzmxKduBEd8pE059Myaq-q_7siuA
