Elie Victor Buchet was a Frenchman who started making small engines for motorcycles and tricycles in the 19th century. He set up his firm Société Buchet.

His ambition was to make engines that would be installed in planes and so he kept developing powerful engines. One of his engines with 40 hp power found its way all the way to England where the General Motor Car Co. decided to build one car in 1902.