1923 Jacques Gérin mid engine streamliner
 

I recently got an email out of the blue from Reg Winstone of Les Amis de Gabriel Voisin due to my enthusiasm for the quirky French luxury cars (worth a whole thread by themselves). It seems one of Gabriel Voisin's apprentices built this advanced prototype in hopes of securing a contract with an automaker. It was not to be.

As far as we know, these are the first photos of Jacques Gérin's prototype to appear publicly on the internet, aside from Gérin's numerous patents on the car.

Infinitely variable auto transmission
Four shoe hydraulic front brakes
Easily removed engine, etc. Reportedly takes only 10 minutes.
Aluminum alloy (duralumin) monocoque chassis.

Intended to be skinned with fabric, the single prototype (with its visible workings) was offered to car manufacturers but ultimately refused due to R&D cost.

Now thanks to Mr. Winstone and Les Amis de Gabriel Voisin, I share with you this revolutionary vehicle. Enjoy!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/...7beeb447_z.jpg
Gérin prototype, 1923 by Sir Tyler Linner the Loyal, of Grant-upon-Croix, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/...642b570a_z.jpg
Gérin prototype, 1923 by Sir Tyler Linner the Loyal, of Grant-upon-Croix, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6103/...8459b3ac_z.jpg
Gérin prototype, 1923 by Sir Tyler Linner the Loyal, of Grant-upon-Croix, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/...1cd81737_z.jpg
Gérin prototype, 1923 by Sir Tyler Linner the Loyal, of Grant-upon-Croix, on Flickr

NICE!!! Thanks for sharing the pics!!

Cool- too bad they didn't get further along with it.

..... and nearly 100yrs later, we are still driving aero bricks.

Nice pics, thanks.

..................but does it fit the template?:D

I think it does as a matter of fact, but I've been wrong before.:cool:

Looks like it has rocker-arm front suspension! My guess is for packaging, not for unsprung weight reduction like modern race cars have. But very cool nonetheless!

-soD

Nice.
Any idea where it's located ?
If there are no other public pics, I take it it's not in a museum ?

There is a patent (US - 1928) for this car here

DESIGN FOR A BOUT CARRIAGE FOR MOTOR ... - Google Patents

Didn't he also do propeller driven cars ?

I have to guess it's in France, but it could be anywhere.

Apparently there are about 50 patents on it!

I don't know anything else about Gerin.

Probably trying to figure out how to compound curve the skin, if it was to be metal.