1927 Voisin C11

Gabriel Voisin of France was an aviation pioneer who built his first practical aeroplane in 1907. His Avions Voisin Company was the first mass producer of aircraft in the world. When World War I came to an end in 1918, this brought an end to Voisin's aviation ventures. Seeking to keep his workforce employed, he looked for other opportunities such as motorized bicycles and a light two-seater economy car.

Moving up-market, Voisin introduced the sleeve valve-engined 4.0-liter M1 in 1919. It was a modern automobile that offered comfort, prestige, and speed. In 1920, it was re-designated 'C1' in honor of Gabriel Voisin's dead brother Charles, though the mechanical specification remained the same.

The Sleeve-Valve engine would gradually make its way to the smaller models in the range. The company's first six-cylinder car was introduced in 1927, the C11. The Avions Voisin C11 was a successful model for the company and was perhaps the most popular selling of all Voisins. Power was from an inline six-cylinder sleeve valve engine that was used well into the 1930s. The 2,326cc sleeve valve engine was mated to a three-speed manual gearbox.

Production of the C11 and its derivatives would remain in production until 1936.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019