Car Spot: 1932 Helicron

Using airplane technology it takes off…Well not really

Inventors have been experimenting with marrying airplane elements into cars since the early 1900s. Take for example this week’s spot, the 1932 Helicron I spotted at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville.

Since I’m a pilot I was all over this contraption. Constructed in 1932, this one-of-a-kind, propeller-driven car was discovered in a barn in France in 2000, parked there by the original owner in the late 1930s. It was completely rebuilt but many of the mechanical components are original, such as the frame, wire wheels, dashboard, steering wheel, steering gear, brake pedal, light switch, headlights, and the type plate.

The wood frame was sandblasted and treated, the steering gear was rebuilt, and the interior was upholstered. The car steers with the rear wheels and only those wheels have springs. It is currently equipped with a Citroën GS engine with the propeller coupled directly to the crankshaft. The Helicron passed the French safety inspection in 2000 and is approved for use on their roads and can be seen out in the streets in Nashville on occasion.

During a noon demonstration at the Lane Motor Museum that I visited in Nashville recently, the curator treated us to more info on the car. It’s fully road-worthy and the museum takes it to shows in the area. What’s it like to drive? Since it uses a propellor for propulsion, it takes a while to accelerate from a standing stop, and going up a hill requires a good head of steam. The chassis was built by renowned French engineer Lucien Rosengart, however, its orientation was backward meaning that the steering wheel of the Helicron turns the rear wheels as opposed to the front. Think of driving a forklift truck but with a box fan strapped to the front. He even started it up and you can see the video here.

What’s it worth? How much money do you have because the Lane Motor Museum owns it and isn’t even entertaining sending it down the road.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about this week’s spot. I have several more from the museum and highly recommend you check it out if you’re in Nashville. Come back next Friday for another one of my spots along with some of its history and have a great weekend.