Wouter Melissen
03-01-2007, 08:51 AM
Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,
Gabriel Voisin has gone into history as a manufacturer of some of the most eccentric vehicles, but he definitely did not take an unconventional route just to be different. He stuck with the sleeve valve engine, lightweight materials and aerodynamic shapes because he felt they were superior, and for almost a decade his customers agreed with him. They may very well have agreed with for many more years, but the depression of the early 1930s obviously didn't make it any easier for the exotic automotive industry. It's also unfortunate to note that in those exact years Voisin reached his artistic and engineering peak; his last cars were his best. Today we pay tribute to this period of excellence with a feature of two cars developed while Automobiles Voisin was already in receivership. Both cars use the C27 chassis, which was the shortest and lowest available in the Voisin range and of which only these two were constructed.
One of Voisin's other quirks was the fact that a large majority of their cars were sold as complete cars and not as a rolling chassis for custom coachbuilders to be bodied, as was the norm of the day. The first C27 was a rare exception as it was equipped with a beautiful Cabriolet body designed by master coachbuilder Joseph Figoni. For the second C27 Voisin returned to 'normal' practice. The Aerosport Coupe body was designed and built in-house and incorporated many of the Voisin trademark features. The most striking feature is no doubt the roof that slides down behind the seats. Both cars were displayed along the Pacific Ocean shoreline for the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Voisin was the featured marque.
Enjoy the links:
Voisin C27 Aerosport Coupe
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=3122
Voisin C27 Figoni Cabriolet
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=3121
Regards,
Wouter Melissen
Gabriel Voisin has gone into history as a manufacturer of some of the most eccentric vehicles, but he definitely did not take an unconventional route just to be different. He stuck with the sleeve valve engine, lightweight materials and aerodynamic shapes because he felt they were superior, and for almost a decade his customers agreed with him. They may very well have agreed with for many more years, but the depression of the early 1930s obviously didn't make it any easier for the exotic automotive industry. It's also unfortunate to note that in those exact years Voisin reached his artistic and engineering peak; his last cars were his best. Today we pay tribute to this period of excellence with a feature of two cars developed while Automobiles Voisin was already in receivership. Both cars use the C27 chassis, which was the shortest and lowest available in the Voisin range and of which only these two were constructed.
One of Voisin's other quirks was the fact that a large majority of their cars were sold as complete cars and not as a rolling chassis for custom coachbuilders to be bodied, as was the norm of the day. The first C27 was a rare exception as it was equipped with a beautiful Cabriolet body designed by master coachbuilder Joseph Figoni. For the second C27 Voisin returned to 'normal' practice. The Aerosport Coupe body was designed and built in-house and incorporated many of the Voisin trademark features. The most striking feature is no doubt the roof that slides down behind the seats. Both cars were displayed along the Pacific Ocean shoreline for the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Voisin was the featured marque.
Enjoy the links:
Voisin C27 Aerosport Coupe
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=3122
Voisin C27 Figoni Cabriolet
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=3121
Regards,
Wouter Melissen