What are you staring at? Avoins Voisin

Voisin was notorious for his intolerance of noise, which he considered to be the greatest assault on human senses. His sleeve-valve engines may have been nearly silent while idling, but most cars of the time also used noisy Bendix-patent electric starters, the grinding from which offended his ears. He designed and made his own, superior starter – the “DynaStart” – which cranked the engine over smoothly and quietly. It is visible on most of his cars, in the center of the front, below the radiator. Voisin also designed and built the world’s first hydraulic brakes, the first hydraulic clutch and first hydraulic suspension.

A Voisin was the auto of choice when one wanted to show off not only ones means for being able to afford such an expensive vehicle, but also to demonstrate ones intellect, sophistication and individuality. H.G. Wells was a customer, as were Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier, Anatole France and Raimu. François Mitterand owned no less than four Voisins, and Rudolph Valentino was sufficiently impressed to order two

Although body styles evolved over the years, one thing remained a constant: Voisin's "Cocotte" mascot (based upon an ancient Egyptian figure of a winged Isis) graced every radiator cap. In an era where radiator mascots were often made of silver- or gold-plated bronze, or of glass, Voisin stayed true to form with one machined out of solid aluminum.

the enameled badge was based on the stylized Egyptian motif scarab beetle in keeping with the Cocotte radiator mascot.

The C27 "Ski Coupé" was Art Deco styling. Even the interior fabric was designed by Gabriel Voisin. The roof literally slides out of the way, leaving no framing at the top of the windshield, for an un-obscured view of the road and sky. Note the shape of the window sills - intended for comfort when resting one's arm on while driving.

here is the tool case in the trunk

The 1932 wicker bodied C14 was for going to picnics.

the fabulous C28 Aerosport of 1935, the last car that Gabriel designed. This was the first passenger car to ever use the "pontoon" body-type, where the front fenders blend directly into the sides of the car.

When Gabriel Voisin realized that his era was past, he closed his workshop, and wrote his memoirs in two volumes, which he titled "My 10,000 Kites" and “My 1001 Autos”.

Much to Gabriel's surprise, when he was 85, the French government informed him that he was to be made a Commander of the Legion of Honor. The recognition must've been bittersweet. With only a small pension to live on, Gabriel Voisin continued on until 1973, when he died in poverty and obscurity, at 93 years old.

Avions Voisin built somewhere in the region of 11,000 automobiles in its 19 years of existence. Unfortunately, since aluminum was a material of vital strategic importance during World War Two and, since Voisins had aluminum bodies, most of them were destroyed; ironically, melted down to make military aircraft. Perhaps 200 Voisin automobiles still exist. Compared to many of its contemporaries such as Bugatti, Delage and Delahaye, Voisin is quite obscure; even most vintage car enthusiasts are unfamiliar with the marque. But among the cognoscenti, they are highly prized. In 2006, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance featured Voisin, and 7 of them attended; nearly all of them the last of their type. That's why something like this totally original Voisin, recently discovered in a barn, is such a remarkable thing.

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