1938 Voisin C30 Cabriolet

This 1938 Avions Voisin C30 Cabriolet with coachwork by Louis Dubos is the only example ever created. It was on display at the 1938 Paris Salon. At this point in history, G. Garabédian had recently taken over the new Avions Voisin automobile company. He asked Gabriel Voisin to develop this model to be shown alongside a Voisin-bodied 30S Coupe. Gabriel was unable to perform the work, so the job was given to the Paris Carrosserie, Louis Dubos.

All of the C30 models were powered by a 3.5-liter supercharged 6-cylinder L-head engine that featured conventional poppet valves. These engines were rated at 116bhp and were fitted with a conventional 3-speed manual gearbox with overdrive on the top gear.

To help reduce road noise on the Dubos Cabriolet, a tar-based product was added. Many of the chassis features found on the C30 Sedan cars could be found on the cabriolet. This included the two sturdy parallel beams. The 4-door C30 sedans rode on a longer version of the wheelbase.

Production of the C30 show cars was never put into full swing, as the outbreak of World War II in late 1939 brought plans to a halt.

Before the Avions Voisin factory was requisitioned by the occupying power and converted into an airplane engine repair facility, there were approximately thirty C30 chassis produced. Five are known to still exist.

During World War II, this one-off Cabriolet was requisitioned by the Germans, who retained it for the duration of the occupation. After the war, Robert Cornière - a pioneering Voisin collector and specialist - recovered the C30 Dubos Cabriolet. It remained in his care for several years and later sold to another collector. Around the 1990s, it was restored by D. Tessier at Tours. It was sold in the late 1990s and has remained in that collection ever since. In 2008, it was offered for sale at the 'Quail Lodge, A Sale of Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia' presented by Bonhams Auction. It was estimated to sell for $500,000 - $800,000 but was left unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2008