ties gave way to the thirties his cars became increasingly aircraft like in style. His C28 is one of the best examples of the refinements Voisin was making in the late thirties even as the world observed the rise of a militarized Nazi Germany and began to realize that Europe could well be heading into another world war. The C28 was quite conventional in terms of its under-slung ladder chassis and front and rear beam axles but its engine was not. Voisin used a Knight principle sleeve valve 3.3liter in-line six cylinder engine mated to a Cotal four speed epicyclic pre-selector gearbox with overdrive. Pre-selector gearboxes such as the Cotal and the Wilson were the transmissions of choice for sporting and luxury cars as they obviated the need for a double de-clutch gearchange. All that was needed to change gear was to move the pre-selector switch to the intended next gear position, and then depress and release the clutch when the gear change was needed. If you have ever driven an old style London double decker bus or ridden behind the driver you will have experienced or seen a similar gearbox in operation.
Gabriel Voisin preferred the Knight sleeve valve system for his engines as it provided the quietest “magic carpet ride” engine possible. A sleeve valve is similar to the slide valves used in a steam locomotive but comprise two sleeves that wrap around each cylinder; one containing the exhaust port and the other the inlet port. The Voisin sleeve valve engine was one of the most silent in operation and provided 102bhp; enough to propel the car to around 150km/hr (90mph) depending on the body style fitted.
By the late thirties the financial situation for Avions Voisin was not good and the war finally ended the company. After the war the 1938 C28 Cabriolet in our pictures was in the possession of Saliot who created the coachwork on it, and they chose to give it to long time mentor and confidante of Gabriel Voisin, Father Jean Gehard who enjoyed it for many years before selling it to provide funding for a new monastery.
This historic and beautiful Voisin C28 has now been restored and is coming up for sale by RM Sotheby’s at their Monterey auction to be held over August 18th-19th, 2017.
You will find the sale page for this car if you click here.
Gabriel Voisin lived as a man passionate about life and all he did. Consequently his automobiles are cars of passion, one was even owned by Hollywood “heart throb” Rudolf Valentino. These are some of the greatest works of automotive art and engineering the world has ever seen.
You will find an article on another Voisin C28 at Silodrome if you click here.
(All pictures courtesy RM Sotheby’s except where otherwise marked).