1938 Voisin C30 S Coupe

As the 1930s were coming to a close, much of the staples that had made the Voisin Company a pinnacle in the automotive industry had changed. The company had been restructured and was now the Avions Voisin Company. The traditional sleeve-valve engine had become too expensive to produce so several varieties of American engines, including those from Packard and Lycoming, were examined. Ultimately, a six-cylinder supercharged Graham engine was chosen. It had a Continental Motors design and was selected for its smooth, quiet performance. Though it was not a sleeve-valve engine, it did have the qualities for which the Knight patented sleeve-valve technology was prized.

The C30 was truly a magnificent machine. It had performance and a silent operating engine. It offered its occupants comfort and safety in a stylish package. There were two large beams, divided by felt outgrowths to provide soundproofing. The suspension was comprised of a patented sliding setup with hydraulic shock absorbers which gave the driver better control and allowed for greater stability at speed.

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, around 30 examples of the C30 were produced. Five still exist in modern times. This C30 S Coupe is the only example of its type. It was displayed at the Avions Voisin stand in 1938, alongside the Dubos Cabriolet, at the Paris Auto Show.

This car wears an aluminum body designed by Gabriel Voisin which was created with centering and lightness principles in mind.

In 1945, the car was owned by a doctor in Brittany. In the 1960s, he sold it to a famous collector who lived in the same region. In 1994, after the owner passed away and in keeping with his will, the car was bequeathed back to the doctor. It was treated to a restoration at the Tessier workshop in Tours before it entered the current owner's collection in 1998.

In 2008, this Coupe was offered for sale at the 'Quail Lodge, A Sale of Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia' presented by Bonhams Auction. As the gavel came to rest, the lot had been sold for $166,500 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2008