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A flamboyant Voisin – but by whom?
So far, there is not much of a classic car season to speak of, as it would have been in full swing by now had all these events not been cancelled. Fortunately, we can look back with joy to the photographs taken at previous events. Concourses for example. This photograph was taken at one such event and supposedly dates back to 1932 when the Bois de Boulogne of Paris was the scene to such an event. The Concours d’élégance was, of course, a French invention after all, when dedicated followers of fashion had become keen to parade their horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris. To see and to be seen.
So what do we see here? That’s an Avions Voisin creation with perhaps a ‘Torpedo Cabriolet’ body or a ‘Cabriolet Limousine’? But by whom? The flamboyant shape itself should certainly be giving away a clue or two. Long cycle wings, polished aluminium bonnet, small doors, miniature rear window. And how about the registration? ‘A-998’ doesn’t seem French to us. Could it be a Dutch one? Or British? Then, perhaps, it would make sense if the coachbuilder was from there also and then we should perhaps be looking for a ‘Torpedo Tourer’? As you like it!
Words by Jeroen Booij. Picture source unknown.
Published:
Thursday July 2nd, 2020
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Comments
Ben Erickson
23 December 2020, 17:48
The Swedish car his is pictured in Copenhagen, just a couple hundred meters down the street from my home.
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Arnoud van der Sman
06 July 2020, 21:20
on the close-up picture of the Grebel spotlight from Mister Hansmann : the round "thing" on the body ( behind the trumpett)
seems to be a Belgium road tax holder ? ( mind you the Britisch used these same style as fare as I know)
but this might be clue that the car stayed in Belgium ?
however the enormous Grebel spotlight is something Mahardja cars to India had for hunting purpose
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seems to be a Belgium road tax holder ? ( mind you the Britisch used these same style as fare as I know)
but this might be clue that the car stayed in Belgium ?
however the enormous Grebel spotlight is something Mahardja cars to India had for hunting purpose
Hubertus Hansmann
03 July 2020, 21:22
@ Jaap ter Linden: That´s what I wrote: two different cars. The swedish car: The gentleman wearing the uniform is Frank Dalin, who owned the car. He was a swedish guy and travelled long distances with the car. The picture was taken in Copenhague on the journey through Europe and you´re right, you can read Copenhague on the picture.
@ Gerard Brands: The "Austrian Flag" is an optical illusion. It´s the "D" of the "Diplomatique", that really looks like the Austrian Flag. I´m quite sure, the car is from Belgium, as Snutsel was located in Bruxelles and Belgian license plates in the middle of the 1920s had "one letter and one or more numbers". That´s what German Wikipedia tells. During that time, only a license plate at the rear was required. for the front it was possible to "build your own plate", but of course with the matching code. And the front license plate really looks like a good homemade craftsmanship, and not like an official plate.
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@ Gerard Brands: The "Austrian Flag" is an optical illusion. It´s the "D" of the "Diplomatique", that really looks like the Austrian Flag. I´m quite sure, the car is from Belgium, as Snutsel was located in Bruxelles and Belgian license plates in the middle of the 1920s had "one letter and one or more numbers". That´s what German Wikipedia tells. During that time, only a license plate at the rear was required. for the front it was possible to "build your own plate", but of course with the matching code. And the front license plate really looks like a good homemade craftsmanship, and not like an official plate.
Gerard Brands
03 July 2020, 18:10
Hello all, if you look at the picture from Hubertus Hansmann you can see on top off the numberplate there stands the word DIPLOMATIQEU and a flag from Austria in front. i could not find anything about this number on internet, maybe one off the Austrian readers know more?
Have a nice weekend.
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Have a nice weekend.
Jaap ter Linden
02 July 2020, 22:19
Hubertus Hansmann: No they are two different cars. The question for me is the registration "" A".
is that Swedish ? And the in one picture uniformed man - who is he ? Must have been a wellknown character.
On one of the pictures there is something written in ink. I think one of the words is Copenhagen in Danish ? Swedish ?
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is that Swedish ? And the in one picture uniformed man - who is he ? Must have been a wellknown character.
On one of the pictures there is something written in ink. I think one of the words is Copenhagen in Danish ? Swedish ?
Hubertus Hansmann
02 July 2020, 17:15
@ Nick Simpson:
I´m quite sure, you are right with the rods, the hood and the "tubular container". When you look at the attached picture, you can spot the fixings for the front part of the hood. The drivers Aero-Screen by the way looks like it´s made of wire mesh, like on some Voisin racing- and record cars and not like glass.
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I´m quite sure, you are right with the rods, the hood and the "tubular container". When you look at the attached picture, you can spot the fixings for the front part of the hood. The drivers Aero-Screen by the way looks like it´s made of wire mesh, like on some Voisin racing- and record cars and not like glass.
Hubertus Hansmann
02 July 2020, 17:00
And a picture of the Swedish C5 before restauration...
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Hubertus Hansmann
02 July 2020, 16:59
Interesting comments already on this Voisin!
@ Jeroen: Sadly I have no idea, where the owner and the car were based, but as the coachbuilder is from Bruxelles, it might be Belgium.
@ Jaap ter Linden: The body of the Swedish C5 was built by Letourneur & Marchand and the car still exists. It was heavyly used for travelling (throgh Europe and later Canada and the US) and for racing and it´s still in Sweden. Registration later was "EJD 998". But it´s not the same car, as the Snutsel.
@ Wilfried Brunner: I can only spot three Voisin. The car behind the Snutsel is a Brasier, but I also first thought it´s a Voisin.
On the picture the Swedish C5. During the restauration it gotmore conventional "wings".
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@ Jeroen: Sadly I have no idea, where the owner and the car were based, but as the coachbuilder is from Bruxelles, it might be Belgium.
@ Jaap ter Linden: The body of the Swedish C5 was built by Letourneur & Marchand and the car still exists. It was heavyly used for travelling (throgh Europe and later Canada and the US) and for racing and it´s still in Sweden. Registration later was "EJD 998". But it´s not the same car, as the Snutsel.
@ Wilfried Brunner: I can only spot three Voisin. The car behind the Snutsel is a Brasier, but I also first thought it´s a Voisin.
On the picture the Swedish C5. During the restauration it gotmore conventional "wings".
Jaap ter Linden
02 July 2020, 15:26
Nick Simpson: It is the same occasion. The second foto is part of a bigger picture showing the cars leaving the terrain.
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Nick Simpson
02 July 2020, 14:41
VOISIN C5
That is the most delightful and outrageous style of coachwork I have seen for a long, long time – absolutely fabulous! Someone must know more about for whom it was constructed…. Having enlarged both pictures I the following points are notable:-
1) The same man appears in both pictures. In the front/left view the two people aboard could be brothers?
2) Both pictures may have been taken at about the same time as the event number sticker on the screen is the same – 98.
3) The pictures show vertical rods, possibly telescopic, not unlike large radio aerials on each side of the front bulkhead – could these be collapsible fixings for a form of hood to cover the front compartment? Could this cover or hood be rolled-up in the tubular container strapped to the left side of the body? The front of the top/hood appears to have a line of fixings for a front cover.
4) There is a vestigial step toward the rear on the right side to give access to the rear compartment and another vestigial, matching step toward the front on the left side of the car giving access to the drivers entry door?
5) The bulkhead carries differing mounts for the two aero-screens; the driver’s side is a full racing car style giving protection to the hands and steering wheel from flying stones whereas the left side is unprotected for the racing mechanic.
6) The diplomatique plaque conjures up wonderful images of people racing through frontiers without controls with the diplomatic bag unchecked aboard….
7) Could this car have been designed as a dual racing and touring car and also a town carriage all in one body for some exotic, young, international couple?
8) If one imagines the car with the top, the side boxes, spare wheel, wings and lamps removed, it’s an instant open-wheel racing car!
Regards
Nick Simpson.
Read more
That is the most delightful and outrageous style of coachwork I have seen for a long, long time – absolutely fabulous! Someone must know more about for whom it was constructed…. Having enlarged both pictures I the following points are notable:-
1) The same man appears in both pictures. In the front/left view the two people aboard could be brothers?
2) Both pictures may have been taken at about the same time as the event number sticker on the screen is the same – 98.
3) The pictures show vertical rods, possibly telescopic, not unlike large radio aerials on each side of the front bulkhead – could these be collapsible fixings for a form of hood to cover the front compartment? Could this cover or hood be rolled-up in the tubular container strapped to the left side of the body? The front of the top/hood appears to have a line of fixings for a front cover.
4) There is a vestigial step toward the rear on the right side to give access to the rear compartment and another vestigial, matching step toward the front on the left side of the car giving access to the drivers entry door?
5) The bulkhead carries differing mounts for the two aero-screens; the driver’s side is a full racing car style giving protection to the hands and steering wheel from flying stones whereas the left side is unprotected for the racing mechanic.
6) The diplomatique plaque conjures up wonderful images of people racing through frontiers without controls with the diplomatic bag unchecked aboard….
7) Could this car have been designed as a dual racing and touring car and also a town carriage all in one body for some exotic, young, international couple?
8) If one imagines the car with the top, the side boxes, spare wheel, wings and lamps removed, it’s an instant open-wheel racing car!
Regards
Nick Simpson.
Wilfried Brunner
02 July 2020, 11:13
Hello, wunderfull car, what is very interessant, i can see on this photo 4 voisin's, is it maybe a Voisin-club-Event?
greetings from switzerland.
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greetings from switzerland.
Phil Macwhirter
02 July 2020, 10:51
Does the “ Diplomatique” note above the front rego plate provide a clue as to the owner?
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Jaap ter Linden
02 July 2020, 10:35
When you look at page 92 of "Automobiles Voisin, by Pascal Courteault"you find twe interesting pictures : one of the Snutsel car and above a picture of a uniformed man standing next to a flaboyant car. I own a picture of the same man with the same car and the same A registration as th Snutsel car. As far as I know The uniformed gentleman is from Sweden. So the question is where the A registration comes from.
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herman van oldeneel
02 July 2020, 07:34
Voisin C-5 Mylord Torpedo,at a concours `élégance Paris, 1924 or 1925
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Jaap ter Linden
02 July 2020, 07:34
I will have to do more homework, but I think the car is from Sweden. I know of a foto of a quite extreme body with an A registration. And that was a Swedish car.
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Hubertus Hansmann
02 July 2020, 06:11
That´s a wonderful car, this Voisin C5 with a body, made by the Belgian coachbuilder "Snutsel". Definetly one of my personal favourites of the early "big four"-Voisin. Snutsel was located in Bruxelles, but two Company names and adresses are on different badges: "D. and E. Snutsel Pere & Fils - 59-61 Rue Stevin - Bruxelles" and "Carosserie de la cour Maison V. Snutsel aine 41 Boulevard de Waterloo - Bruxelles". I know of only three survivors with a Snutsel body: A Hispano-Suiza H6B, the long-wheelbase "Blitzen-Benz"-Tourer and an Excelsior Albert Ist Faux-Cabriolet.
But back to the Voisin: The owner, Mr. M. Blancas drove the car to the concours d'élégance at the Parc des Princes, in June 1925, where this picture was taken. Sadly not many Photos of this wonderful car seem to exist and I know nothing about the fate of the "Snutsel - C5".
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But back to the Voisin: The owner, Mr. M. Blancas drove the car to the concours d'élégance at the Parc des Princes, in June 1925, where this picture was taken. Sadly not many Photos of this wonderful car seem to exist and I know nothing about the fate of the "Snutsel - C5".
Jeroen Booij
02 July 2020, 10:31
That's some good information Hubertus, thank you very much for that! Do you also know where the owner and his car were based?
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Peter Ransom
02 July 2020, 03:45
A limousine would have a division - usually glass - between driver and passengers, like the A-V beside the car in question. I have no clue as to the carossier, but the body certainly is interesting. The protective material on the rear mudguard isn't going to be hammered by flying stones, so perhaps it's milady's stilettos that are expected to be dangerous. No door for the driver, so does he climb onto the black box before clambering into his seat? Or is there a door on the other side? The disparity between the spotlight and the rear window suggests the owner is more interested in the future than the past!
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