Description
This car is Lot 184 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Sale on 6 February, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Tuesday 4 February from 08:00 until 18:00 and Wednesday 5 February from 9 AM - 6 PM, at The Grand Palais Historique, Paris.
Lot 184
1957 Avions-Voisin Camionnette plateau 6 roues prototype
Registration no.
Chassis no.
Prototype displayed at the 1957 Cycle Show
Original historical documents on file, including correspondence, purchase invoice, engine invoice, etc.
Lightweight vehicle of 400 kg with a load capacity of 500 kg
Extensive maintenance in 2019 with detailed invoice
Displayed at Chantilly Arts & Elegance 2019 and Rétromobile
French registration receipt for road use dated 1963
By the start of the Roaring Twenties, Gabriel Voisins quirky, innovative automobiles were becoming widely adopted by the social elite of France from sportsmen to celebrities, were the term Art Deco to have been coined then, these would already be their automotive definition.
At the dawn of the Roaring Twenties, Gabriel Voisin's bold and innovative automobiles emerged as symbols of progress and avant-garde sophistication, embraced by the French social elite, from sportsmen to celebrities. Had the term "Art Deco" been coined at that time, these vehicles would have epitomised its automotive definition. The esteem in which his cars were held is evident in the calibre of his clientele, which included the French Presidency, H. M. Alexander I, King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the Sultan of Morocco, the President of Argentina, Princess Helen of Greece, H. R. H. the Prince of Siam, and many more distinguished figures.
However, Gabriel Voisin's avant-garde vision did not stagnate before the war. This small truck is a testament to the transformations that took place in France between the 1930s and 1950s. It aligns with the modernist movement, exemplified by figures such as Jean Prouvé, embracing simplicity, clean geometric forms, the use of industrial materials, and a focus on functionality, rationality, and innovation. While Voisin's pre-war models were as extravagant as they could be, this particular model is as utilitarian and basic as possible.
Launched at the 1957 Cycle Show, this innovative flatbed truck prototype, touted as the worlds most economical land transport, was never put into mass production. Stored with the Société Nationale dÉtude et de Construction de Moteurs dAviation, it was acquired by Mr. Roger Brioult, a fan of the Avions-Voisin brand, in 1962. Lacking its original engine, a new one was later installed by Jean Bertin, director of SNECMA. Mr. Brioult sold it at auction in 2013, along with the original historical documents related to its acquisition. In 2019, this prototype underwent extensive maintenance by its current owner.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
