Je suis venu en Voisin...

This chauffeur is proudly standing in front of his Voisin C7 Lumineuse.

With a small 4 cylinder engine, rated 10 HP in France, the C7 was available from 1924. The "Lumineuse" body was created in 1925 and was very innovative by many aspects:

- the lightweight construction with aluminum panels

- The sliding windows
- A third headlight mounted on the right side and at the rear of the body. The idea was to improve the driving condition during night without dazzle other drivers.

The result was this Art deco style body that was sold quite well.

Lorraine

This chauffeur can be proud of his Lorraine-Dietrich. The car is bodied as a "Roi des Belges"tourer and seems to be ready for a long journey on the French roads.
Initially from Luneville close to Nancy, France, the headque-arter is moved to Paris 1905 and a second factory in founded in 1907 in Argenteuil.

The Lorraine was a car with a good reputation.
The last model of personal car was the 20 CV that was produced in the first half of the 30's.

Beute auto...

Between mid 1940 and the D-day in June 1944, the German troops occupied, first the North -West half of France and from November 1942 the whole country.
It now quite well known that during this period many paintings, sculptures and different antics were either stolen or, in few cases, bought but at a very low price. It is less known that many cars were also took by the German Army.
Of course the latest models were the first choice with a clear preference for American cars such as Packard, Buick, Cadillac... and also the French most desirable models with the Delahaye 135, Delage D8, Bugatti T57...
In the enclosed pictures, it is a more humble sport car, probably French that has been discovered in a barn by few soldiers.
We haven't been able to identify the manufacturer of this car. Is it a Derby, a Lombard, a Rally ?
We are waiting for your suggestions.

Mercedes-Benz typ 630 from 1925

This Mercedes-Benz 24/100/140 PS typ 630 was one of the most luxury car built in Germany during the mid-20s.
With a straight 6 cylinder engine (94 x 150) of 6.2 l capacity, this motor developed 100 PS at 2800 rpm and 140 PS at 3100 rpm thanks to the compressor.
The 6 seat tourer was priced 26500 Reichmarks while at the same time, the small Opel "Laubfrosch" cost 4500 Reichmarks.
Competitor to the 630 was the Maybach W5 built in Friedrichshafen for the German manufacturers.

Brasier, le trèfle à quatre feuilles

Charles-Henri Brasier is born in Ivry-la-Bataille on March 9, 1864. Graduated, in 1883, from the famous Ecole des Arts et Métiers from Chalons en Champagne , his first job is drawer for Panhard & Levassor then to the Paris-Orléans railway company.
In 1895, he joined Mors where he is responsible for the conception of the petrol automobiles. Brasier designs Mors racing car that will win several races among them the Paris-Berlin in 1901.
En 1902, he left Mors and, with Georges Richard, they found the Society Richard-Brasier with a big factory in Ivry-Port and use as brand mark "Le trèfle à quatre feuilles" that has been registered by Richard in 1892.
June 17, 1904, Léon Théry is winner of the Coupe Gordon Bennett with a 4 cyl. 80 HP Brasier and this victory, in Germany, will have a very important impact in France.
Few months after this event, the two associates, Charles-Henri Brasier and Georges Richard, separate.
One year later, on July 15, 1905, for the second time Léon Théry is again winner of the Coupe Gordon Bennett that ran this year in France.
These two victories have an important impact on the production and sale of automobiles Brasier until 1914, the beginning of one of the most terrific event of the 20th century the first World War.

Darl'mat designed by Georges Paulin

Georges Paulin was a dentist but also car designer who worked on Lancia, Renault, Peugeot, Bentley.

This 302 Darl'mat cabriolet was presented at the concours of elegance in Cannes in 1937.

Henri-Labourdette Trèn-Car

Just after WWI,  Henri-Labourdette, the famous coachbuilder, created a small trailer called "Trèn-Car".
Trèn is phonetically trainer,  in English : to lug.
I think it was the first time that a trailer was proposed to automobilists and it was a quite expensive item.

On the above picture, we see a big De Dion Bouton coupé limousine from the early 20's, equipped with a Trèn-car.

It was possible to have the trailer equipped with luggage or, as below, with a dog cage.