Avions Voisin
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Gabriel Voisin |
| Defunct | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Issy-les-Moulineaux , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
Avions Voisin was a prestigious French automobile manufacturer established by Gabriel Voisin in 1919, with operations continuing until 1939.
History
Gabriel B. Voisin, a trailblazer in aviation, transitioned to automobile production in 1919 at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, utilizing Knight-style sleeve valve engines. Having studied at the Fine Arts School of Lyon and possessing a strong mechanical background, Voisin incorporated lightweight materials such as aluminum extensively in his vehicle designs. The 1923 Voisin Laboratoire Grand Prix car was pioneering for its time, featuring one of the earliest monocoque chassis and a propeller-driven radiator cooling system.
Collaborating with André Noel, Voisin crafted a unique 'rational' approach to coachbuilding that prioritized light construction, balanced weight distribution, generous luggage space, and angular aesthetics. During the 1930s, their models with underslung chassis stood out for their low profile and aerodynamic efficiency.
Economic difficulties during the early 1930s forced staff reductions, including the departure of engineer André Lefèbvre, who left on Gabriel’s advice to join Citroën. Lefèbvre subsequently spearheaded influential projects like the Traction Avant, 2CV, and DS, integrating numerous design concepts originally developed by Voisin.
Engines
Initially, all vehicles were powered exclusively by sleeve valve (Knight) engines until later models adopted Graham 3.5-litre powerplants. The Knight engine lineup included various configurations such as: inline four-cylinder; inline six-cylinder; a prototype V8; a 7.2-liter prototype V12 from 1921; an inline twelve-cylinder; and a seven-cylinder radial prototype.
After the Second World War
Following the conclusion of the Second World War, the company underwent nationalization amid political upheaval, with government-appointed management who diverged from Voisin’s original engineering philosophy. The firm was absorbed into its principal creditor and engine supplier, Gnome & Rhône, itself nationalized in 1945 to become part of the state-controlled entity SNECMA.
At the 1950 Paris Motorcycle and Bicycle Show, Voisin unveiled the "Biscooter Voisin," a compact vehicle powered by a front-mounted 125 cc Gnome & Rhône engine. Featuring an aluminum body and a three-speed gearbox plus an additional gear, this voiturette required no driver's license. However, this model was eventually discontinued as the company enlisted Mr. Moglia, formerly associated with Hotchkiss, to design an alternative voiturette. Moglia's rear-engine concept debuted at the 1952 Paris Motor Show, retaining the same engine but incorporating revised braking and suspension systems. This iteration, also labeled "Biscooter Voisin," has been regarded by some as inaccurately named.
Rebranded as Biscúter, this vehicle was tailored for the Spanish market, with roughly 12,000 units manufactured in Catalonia by Autonacional S.A. under license from Voisin between 1953 and 1960.
Legacy
- A 1925 Avions Voisin C3 Cabriolet earned best-in-class honors at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2001 and secured Best in Show at Radnor Hunt in 2002; it was sold for EUR€212,800 in 2015.
- The 1934 C-15 Ets. Saliot Roadster achieved Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2002.
- A 1931 Voisin C20 Mylord Demi-Berline claimed Best of Show at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2009 and fetched $2,750,000 at auction in 2010.
- The 1934 C-25 Aérodyne owned by Peter and Merle Mullin won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2011.
- A 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne was auctioned at Pebble Beach in 2013 for $1,925,000.
- The 1934 Voisin C-27 Aérosport received Best in Show honors at the Hampton Court Palace Concours d'Elegance in London in 2021.
Popular culture
In Universal Pictures' 1933 film adaptation of H. G. Wells's The Invisible Man, the character Dr Kemp is seen driving a Voisin C-3 touring automobile.
The 1938 movie Three Comrades showcases a 1923 Voisin C5, which belongs to one of the principal characters.
Within the 2005 film Sahara, the stolen vehicle portrayed is a 1936 Avions Voisin C-28. The protagonist, played by Matthew McConaughey, identifies it as a scarce six-cylinder sleeve valve engine variant, with only six units ever produced. The car used in the movie is actually a fiberglass replica featuring a Jaguar XK6 engine paired with a Rover automatic transmission mounted on a four-wheel-drive chassis, constructed by renowned restorer D Tessier in Tours, France. Author Clive Cussler possessed an authentic 1936 Avions Voisin similar to the C-28 in his Colorado museum collection. British special effects designer Steve Lamonby crafted the replica in just four months, modifying it by removing the roof to improve actor visibility and giving it the appearance of a mid-1930s four-door cabriolet. The registration plate's "GV" pays tribute to Gabriel Voisin. This replica, referred to as the Voisin C-28 Sahara, was auctioned for US$23,400 in 2008.
The 2011 video game L.A. Noire features a drivable 1938 Voisin C30 concealed at an Alaco gas station located at La Brea and Sunset Boulevard.