1935 Avions Voisin C28 Aérosport

1935 Avions Voisin C28 Aérosport

To claim industrialist Gabriel Voisin was obsessed with aviation would be an understatement. The man pioneered Europe’s first manned aircraft in the earliest days of fixed wing flight. Gabriel and his brother established an aircraft manufacturing company in 1906 and began incorporating aluminum into airframes. Their company took off with a 10,000 unit aircraft contract in support of World War One—namely, the Voisin III. After the war, Gabriel decided to, quite literally, bring his talents from the stratosphere to the streets.

Like his lightweight planes, Voisin mastered aluminum coachwork for his automobiles. Although early models were forward thinking, Gabriel perfected his aviation art deco autos in the mid 1930s with the C28 Aérosport. Penned by Gabriel himself, the all-new Gran Turismo was a groundbreaking blend of function and form that rightfully left the 1935 Paris Salon crowd in awe. Unfortunately a short while later Avions Voisin went bankrupt and that was the end of the story.

notes: Voisin did some very interesting things when creating this. The windshield is 3-piece flat panels and done aircraft style. The windshield wipers are mounted through the glass itself via three holes. The assembly on the roof is a vacuum operated sliding sunroof that slides back on an external track system. The front fenders are one of the first designs (or maybe the first?) of integrating with the bodywork envelope itself. [And the prior picture of the chassis with its aircraft style of construction is what inspired me to do the rear engine configuration.]

My version: The design language with the infusion of aircraft inspired French curves and Art Deco touches was mandatory to retain. Instead of keeping its original 118-inch wheelbase and front engine configuration, it now has a 96.5-inch wheelbase and is rear engine powered. (Thus pitching the grille / front engine bonnet appendages of the original) The platform beneath would be a modern Porsche 911 in regard to pedal box, steering, seating and overall height. (Although VW, Subaru or maybe French powered?) Wheels are modern production 20-inch with a tire diameter of 29.6-inches. More on this upcoming…