Joseph_Ravel

Pierre-Joseph Ravel (1832–1908) was a Swiss civil engineer and inventor, father of the composer Maurice Ravel. He was a pioneer of the automobile industry.
He invented and drove the steam-powered automobile in the late 1860s, developed an acetylene-powered two-stroke engine, built the racing car that could achieve speeds of up to 6 kilometres per hour (3.7 mph) and built a vehicle that could perform a somersault.