It was not the Wright brothers' Kitty Hawk Flyer that is said to have been the first motorized aircraft controlled by a pilot, but a machine designed by French aviation pioneer Gabriel Voisin - at least that is what he insisted throughout his life. Today, however, the ingenious designer is primarily remembered for the pioneering automobiles that left his factory in lssy-les-Moulineaux from 1919 onwards: technically and aesthetically highly developed vehicles that reflected both Voisin's experience in aircraft construction and his eye, trained at the École des Beaux Arts de Lyon.
The models, some of which were built in very small numbers, are coveted collector's items. Eighteen exhibits can be seen as part of an extraordinary special show at Retro Classics Stuttgart 2020.
Elegance and aerodynamics
When designing his first automobile, Gabriel Voisin used a design that André Citroën had previously rejected: the C1 ("C" ironically for char, tank) presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1919 had a valveless twin-slide engine with an impressive 80 hp.
In the twenties and thirties, Voisin perfected his automobiles into aerodynamic luxury limousines, which soon found a place in the garages of the rich, beautiful and famous.
The brand with the winged emblem also caused quite a stir in motorsport, particularly in speed and endurance races.
No commercial success
Gabriel Voisin, however, was not a prudent businessman. His company ran into financial difficulties and was eventually taken over by a consortium. The "king of designers", as he once called himself, nevertheless remained active into old age.
When he died in 1973 at the age of 93, he left behind more than 200 patents. His last automobile, the minimalist two-seater C31 small car, was a sensation in 1950 and was produced in Spain for a long time under the name "Biscúter".
The special exhibition at Retro Classics Stuttgart, presented in collaboration with the Club Les Amis de Gabriel Voisin, showcases the entire spectrum of Voisin history: On display - alongside the historic "cornerstones" C1 and C31 - are also some of the impressively equipped luxury cars from the thirties.
Not the only special show!
The certainly very unusual special show in honor of Voisin is not the only special exhibition in Stuttgart, however.
The Gulf vehicles from the ROFGO Gulf Heritage Collection, including a Porsche 917 and a Ford GT40, will certainly be much talked about and seen. They will be on display in the atrium of Retro Classics in Stuttgart.
Further information on Retro Classics Stuttgart can be found on the organizer's website.
