Ultimatecarpage.com update (12-14-07)

[Wouter Melissen]

Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,

French car designers of the 1930s are today well known for their curvaceous and often very elegant designs. There were few exceptions like Jacques Saoutchik and above all Gabriel Voisin. The designs of the aircraft constructor turned car manufacturer were heavily inspired by aviation and contemporary architecture. This led to a very unconventional mix of curves and straight lines that make any factory bodied Voisin easily recognizable. Sadly he reached an artistic peak when his company was on the verge of bankruptcy and of his finest designs only very few have been built and far less exist today. Topping all is the C28 Aerosport of which only three or four were constructed. The featured example is the only one known to have survived and it did so in remarkable original condition. Voisin always (probably rightly) claimed that this was the very first modern car with the front fenders integrated into the body. It is a functional work of art.
More exemplary of the conventional French designers is the Italian born Joseph Figoni. He clothed the Le Mans winning Alfa Romeos before he turned to some of the best loved street car designs fitted mostly on Talbot Lago and Delahaye chassis. One fine exception is this Duesenberg J Figoni Speedster. It was highly regarded from day one and after a spirited drive to the French Riviera in the Paris-Nice rally, it took first place in the Cannes Concours d'Elegance. A few years later the car was equipped with a supercharger, but fortunately the unique Figoni design was left unaltered.
Looking at the Voisin and the Duesenberg side by side, it is hard to imagine they were designed around the same time and in the same city. Paris must have been one exciting place in the 1930s!

Enjoy the links:

Duesenberg J Figoni Speedster
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...Speedster.html

Voisin C28 Aerosport
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/1...Aerosport.html

Regards,
Wouter Melissen

[Ferrer]

Thanks for the update.

Those 30's french cars (or french bodied cars) never cease to amaze me. Back then cars were thought as pieces of art rather than mere transportation.

By the way wasn't one of those Voisins, Mr. Voisin's personal car, equiped with another rear mounted six cylinder engine or was it another model?

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Thanks for the update.

Those 30's french cars (or french bodied cars) never cease to amaze me. Back then cars were thought as pieces of art rather than mere transportation.

By the way wasn't one of those Voisins, Mr. Voisin's personal car, equiped with another rear mounted six cylinder engine or was it another model?

I am not aware of a rear mounted engine. He did work on a radial engine and in those early thirties worked on a car of the future, which according to him consisted of a unitary chassis and fully independent suspension. It is safe to say that he was a brilliant mind, be it a slightly eccentric one.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen

I am not aware of a rear mounted engine. He did work on a radial engine and in those early thirties worked on a car of the future, which according to him consisted of a unitary chassis and fully independent suspension. It is safe to say that he was a brilliant mind, be it a slightly eccentric one.

I've found the car where I had the information. It's about the "Voisin Aerosport" (they don't mention the C28 model desigantion anywhere). Information is very scarce, it just says Gabriel Voisin built a special twin engined (one in the front, ones in the back) Aerosport for his personal use and that apparently it was capable of speeds over 200km/h. Any more info?