The C1 was the first car produced by Gabriel Voisin, founder of the aircraft company Avions Voisin. Rather than starting from scratch, Voisin purchased the rights to build a larger, more luxurious car based on a prototype Citroën. The four-cylinder engine of the C1 was of Knight design, utilizing sleeve valves for nearly silent running and featuring a cast iron block and aluminum sump. Voisin was one of the first companies to offer a luxury car for sale after the end of WWI, and the success of the C1 was instantaneous. Though somewhat conservative in its lines and overall execution, this model set the foundation for the new pursuits of Gabriel Voisin, and began to reveal some of his styling and technical preferences. Approximately 860 examples of the C1 were built before the introduction of the C3L in mid-1922.

Avions Voisin soon became the preferred car of royals and the wealthy. The Sultan of Morocco, the Prince of Siam, and the President of Argentina were just a few of the many significant figures who owned a Voisin.

The formally styled C1 offered here is optioned with the drum-brake equipped front axle and, as such, is a fairly early European automobile to feature four-wheel brakes. It has seen reconditioning over time by previous owners, but it has not been fully restored and thus stands as a rare window into the earliest Voisin model. According to its history file, for many years, the C1 Limousine was held by the Le Mans Museum in France, where it is stated to have remained until 1992. It is believed that this C1 had just one additional owner before being acquired by the Mullin Collection in 2008. From its Cocotte radiator mascot to its formal and elegant styling, this car shows glimpses of what was to come from one of the most iconic French marques.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1919.

*Please note that all of the Lots in this Auction have been in long-term static storage at the Mullin Automotive Museum and may not be currently operational. They will require mechanical attention and in some cases significant restoration prior to any road use.