1923 Voisin C6

Continuing with the Mullin Museum’s race car collection, I stumbled upon the weirdest one of them all down at the end of isle. I hope this one provides some inspiration for hot rod cues. I dig the dash panel, massive shift linkage, and huge disk wheels. I’m also thinking they beat Chrysler to the square steering wheel by nearly 40 years!

The Voison C6 Laboratoire Racer was built by Gabriel Voisin specifically for Grand Prix competition in 1923, as there were new rules in place that he wanted to take advantage of. You can see Voisin’s aircraft inspiration (right down to the hokey propeller on the nose) as he wanted to design a body with limited drag that would close out the air cleanly behind the car, and conserve fuel, preventing too many pit stops. The monocoque streamlined aluminum body was in the shape of an aircraft wing (first GP car to do so) and was powered by a feeble 2.0 liter motor that would prove to be not well tested enough before racing. Additional cooling was also necessary and the rear differential was dispensed with to reduce weight.

Only 5 were built for the 1923 Grand Prix, and only one finished… In 5th place. Voisin would go on to make winning cars after more R & D on future racers.