Jay Leno's Garage Welcomes 2011 Pebble Beach Winner

Dec. 31, 2011 3:14 AM ET by Adam Lynton Classic Cars / 12 Comments

Chat show legend meets French automotive legend of the thirties.

Peter Mullin's 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne was this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 'Best in Show' and best car in the 1932-1937 European classic category. Recently, both car and owner popped by Jay Leno's garage to give the comedian and car enthusiast the chance to drool over one of his favorite cars. He loves 30's French vehicles, and this particular model was once a marvel of innovation, featuring a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder sleeve-valve engine.

Producing just over 100hp, with a mechanized retractable hardtop sun roof and exquisite interior that personified classic French design of the time, just 28 examples of the C-25 were produced with three design variants namely the Cimier, Clariere and this showstopper, the Aerodyne. Gabriel Voisin was one of the leading European engineers and aerodynamicists of the turn of the century, and his company initially built airplanes before turning to automobiles after World War I. Interestingly, Voisin claimed to be the first person to successfully participate in powered flight.

18 months after the Wright brothers' legendary flight in Kitty Hawk, the French legend took off, flew and landed his aircraft totally unaided . His accomplishment was never recognized, although his legacy of pioneering unique automobiles lives on. Photos courtesy of Drew Phillips / AOL.

Source Credits: www.jaylenosgarage.com

Jay Leno's Garage Welcomes 2011 Pebble Beach Winner

Join The Discussion

Gallery