The Ballot 3/8 LC was developed in France after World War I for international competition, including the 1919 Indianapolis 500 and subsequent Grand Prix races. Designed by engineer Ernest Henry, the car featured an advanced 3.0-liter straight-eight engine with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder—technology far ahead of most contemporaries. Though it achieved limited race victories, the Ballot demonstrated exceptional engineering sophistication. Its design helped establish the template for future high-performance racing engines and marked an important step in the evolution of modern Grand Prix and Formula-style racing machinery.