The mesmerizing automobiles of monsieur Wimille

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Crikey, was there a lot to see, last weekend, in Paris! Highlights included a private collection of Abarths (more soon) and, opposite, a rare chance to see several cars designed by Jean Pierre Wimille. A GP-racer for Bugatti before the War, Wimille became a designer after the War when he decided to engineer the car of the future. A streamlined body was designed with a panoramic windscreen, integrated headlights, independent wheels and electrical control gear box.

Three versions of the Wimille GT were planned: a 70hp ‘Grand Tourism’, a ‘Sport’ with 100hp V6 1500cc engine; and a 220hp (!) racing version expected to reach speeds of some 300km/h. The car appeared in 1946 when its slippery shape must have been a shock! Due to lack of time, the V6 engine planned was replaced by the power house of a Citroën Traction Avant, which made it possible to conduct initial tests over long distances. More prototypes were to follow, but meanwhile, Wimille teamed up with Gordini and helped them becoming the success it became. Ford of France became another partner and gave him carte blanche for further prototype cars. This led to the 1948 Wimille GY.

All came to an abrupt ending when, in January 1949, Jean Pierre Wimille crashed on Palermo behind the wheel of a Gordini racer. This brutal death was a fatal blow to the planned future cars, too, although the small team working in the ‘Special Cars’ department defended the project of their revolutionary car. A new ‘Cyclops’ prototype with single headlamp was presented at the doncours d’élégance du Bois de Boulogne in 1949. But Ford France brought out a more commercial design, and decided to cease the future car project.

Miraculously, three of the four GT prototypes, have survived, one of which was discovered in the 1970s by fellow-designer Philippe Charbonneau in Le Havre. All of them were now reunited at the Retromobile show, joined by some of Wimille’s PreWar single seat racers. A fabulous sight!

(Words an photographs Jeroen Booij)

   

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