1925 Voisin C7

The Louwman Museum's 1925 Voisin C7 (from the collection of the author)

Here's another car from the wonderful Louwman Museum - an original 1925 Voisin C7. This two-door demi-berline in the "Lumineuse" style is quite representative of the innovative, powerful, and expensive cars Gabriel Voisin began building in 1919. Voisin is one of the most important French aviation pioneers and had already established himself as an airplane manufacturer when he turned to automobiles after the airplane business dried up upon the close to WWI. Gabriel had lost his brother Charles to an automobile accident in 1912 and the "C" in the model designation "C7" is in tribute to him.

The aircraft inspired construction featured functional, art-deco bodies with angular lines, large windows, and an aluminum skin attached to wooden ribs. This lightweight construction concept is similar to the "superleggera" designs that would come later. Voisin's cars were all but hand-crafted and production was low. However, regardless of their cost, they were favored by arts, architects, and entertainers of the period. If fact, this car is the same model often seen in photographs of Voisin's friend and collaborator, architect Le Corbusier.

Le Corbusier and his Voisin C7 (photo credit: Fondation Le Corbusier.fr)

1939 Lagonda V12 Lancefield Coupe

The Louwman Museum's 1939 Lagonda Lancefield Coupe (from the collection of the author)

Dad is in the Hague today visiting one of the finest collections in the world - the Evert Louwman Museum. While I'm stuck back here in the states, we might as well take a look at a few of these wonderful cars - starting with the 1939 Lagonda Lancefield Coupe.

Lagonda, founded by American Wilbur Gunn, was named after Lagonda Creek, near Springfield, Ohio - Gunn's place of birth. Gunn passed away in 1920, but the company soldiered on, winning Le Mans in 1935. However, creditors were at the gates and the company was sold to Alan Good, who outbid Rolls-Royce. Gunn brought in W.O. Bentley, who had been released from Rolls-Royce (Rolls had acquired Bentley and the services of W.O. Bentley in 1931) and with him came his team, including Stuart Tresillian, Charles Sewell, and Frank Freely. The new V12 was released in 1937 and soon after Alan Good set his sights on returning to Le mans. Bentley and his team prepared two V12 cars for the 1939 race and they made an excellent showing finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. All eyes were now set on a 1940 Le Mans victory. Lagonda sent two V12 cars to Lancefield for aerodynamic coachwork - much like the Embiricos Bentley bodied by Portout in 1938.

The Lancefield Coachworks (1921-1948) was an obvious choice, located close by, they had built sporting bodies for Lagonda and others in the past. Lancefield originally worked from Lancefield Street in Queen's Park - thus the firm's name. However, after the cars were finished, all plans for a victory at the 1940 Le Mans were thrown aside as war was declared in Europe. The museum's website notes that the second Lancefield Coupe was brought to America and crashed at Bonneville. Even though it never got the chance to race, it's still a very unique piece of Lagonda history.

A new blog at ClassicCars.com

I have been invited to contribute to a new blog on classiccars.com: http://blog.classiccars.com/vehicle-profile-kissel-speedster/. I want to thank Bob Golfen and Larry Edsall, two topnotch automotive writers, for the invitation and I look forward to being a part of this great blog at ClassicCars.com - check it out. 

2014 Copperstate 1000 - the parking lot

The cars of the Copperstate 1000 are always a wonderful grouping. However, the "parking lot" cars are often as unique and fantastic as those entered on the event. Here's a selection of interesting finds at this years event.

One of the nicest cars around, this D-Type Jaguar is a local car (author's photo)

Wonderful Porsche 914-6 in the owners possession since the 1970's (author's photo)

An Amphicar in the desert? (author's photo)

Great driver quality Triumph TR3A (author's photo)

Lovely Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet (author's photo)

I saw this big Healey drive in - nice car (author's photo)

This Austin-Healey 3000 had great patina (author's photo)

2014 Copperstate 1000

As one of the great events here in the southwest, I always make a point of getting out to the Copperstate 1000 each year. I've written about this wonderful event in the past and this year didn't disappoint with the cars headed south for a run thought Tucson, Bisbee, etc. (Arizona) this week. There was one unfortunate incident with a Porsche Carrera running into a pickup truck (I feel sorry for the driver as the pickup cut him off) - I hope the organizers implement stricter traffic controls for next year.

Regardless, here's a few cars that caught my attention this year.

This Porsche Carrera from NY got into an altercation with a pickup! (author's photo)

A 1973 Porsche 911 RS/RSR from California (author's photo)

The 1956 Arnolt Bristol Coupe from the Scottsdale Auto Museum (author's photo)

Jakob Greisen of Bonhams brought his 1959 MGA (author's photo)

1 of just 420 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GTs (author's photo)

Ron Myers of RM Auctions piloted this 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 (author's photo)

Friend's Kevin and Toni brought their 1955 Studebaker President Speedster (author's photo)

A very rare and unusual 1965 Lamborghini 3500GT Zagato

From Texas came this 1924 3 Liter Bentley (author's photo)

Yet another friend, Scott, drove his 1973 Citroen SM

A look back to the 1991 Scottsdale Auctions

I was digging through some old photos and came across these images that I took back in 1991 at the Barrett-Jackson auction. Back at this time, Barrett-Jackson only had one sale a year and folks like Tom Barrett were still alive. Since most of the auction companies seen in Arizona today were not yet on the scene, Barrett-Jackson attracted more premium cars back then (I think Tom Barrett also played a hand in this).

Regardless, it's amazing to see what showed up back then. 

A Mercedes 300SL Gullwing and Ferrari 250 Lusso (from the collection of the author)

1 of 53 C-Type Jaguars and 1 of 71 D-Type cars (from the collection of the author)

1957 Dual-Ghia Coupe - 1 of 117 cars produced (from the collection of the author)

1 of 68 surviving Marmon V-16's (from the collection of the author)

1 of 120 Lamborghini GT350s (from the collection of the author)

Aston Martin BD5 Convertible Supperleggera (from the collection of the author)

1940 Packard Super Eight Convertible Sedan by Darrin (from the collection of the author)