A Campbell Mystery Car? (1931 Voisin based Bristol record car)

I'm almost at a loss for words. Can you imagine taking it out in todays world for a drive? The police would be out in droves to put you away forever, with a life sentance after!.....oh for the good old days!

The Stapp Jupiter was an absolutely amazing car. OK, "car" may not be the right word... Here you can see it, driving through the streets of Paris:
https://picasaweb.google.com/VoisinAerodyne/StappJupiter?authkey=Gv1sRgCKDI0_2hgJDnzAE&feat=email#5970611083092424498

Best Regards and enjoy the last hours of the Interclassics,
Hubertus

Ah, the entirely bizarre LSR contender built by René Stapp in 1932!

Three Bristol Jupiter engines fitted to a modified Voisin chassis - with the original Voisin engine apparently retained as a starter motor!

It caught fire while being tested on the beach at La Baule and was burnt out. Stapp broke his leg while exiting the cockpit but vowed to build another - even bigger and more powerful - I assume he ran out of money, enthusiasm or both, as I've never found anything about another.

Ivan Pozega and I had a discussion about it a while ago over at Jalopy Journal. It really is a fearsome beast and I just love the spare wheel!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5454977&postcount=4045

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5456308&postcount=4049

Another picture:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6450543&postcount=6502

Note in the Czech language.
The car of engineer Strapp (correctly Stapp - René Stapp), which wants to overcome Campbell's record.

Best regards Joe

Hello,

the registration is french, august 1931 in Paris and not a military one.
This car seems more built for a moovie !
I think the picture is taken in a Citroen garage !

regards

MAthieu

PS: being tensioned by cables connected to the steering, the enormous tail fin was configured to act as a rudder, which must have done wonders for its high speed stability. Perhaps this feature was only employed when running on the streets of Paris, which it did.

It would be interesting to know whether René was related to Col. John Paul Stapp, whose rocket-powered sled 'Sonic Wind' catapulted him from 0 to 632mph in less than 5 seconds in 1954. By deploying metal scoops into dammed-up water, it came to a halt in 1.4 seconds - 40G. The sensation? “Like dental extraction without anaesthetic,” he said. Three days later, his vision returned. Go-faster Stapps mean business.

Believe it or not, this is a 4-litre Voisin, as discreetly modified by René Stapp in Moiselle in 1932 as a land speed record contender by fitting a trio of old 29-litre Bristol Jupiter aero engines converted into ‘internal combustion turbines’. The original Voisin engine was retained for starting purposes. With a total of more than 1200 horses, he confidently predicted 450km/h, but his test runs on the sands near La Baule ended when the car spontaneously combusted when it reached 90km/h. Stapp beat a hasty retreat with his trousers on fire, but only his dignity was harmed.

10 metres long and painted in blue, the car apparently boasted four wheel drive and electric transmission; it weighed 5,000lb. Forward vision was via a modified submarine periscope. Stapp fended off technical questions on the grounds of secrecy.


"I have not heard such noise since the Great War," said one reporter. "The sight of the car on the road, trailing long streamers of orange-colored flame from the holes in the tail, and making a noise like an artillery barrage, was distinctly impressive."


Can't say much about the car but the picture seems to be taken in a Citroen garage. Chevron-posters on the wall. And the unmistakeable shape of a octagonal enamelled Citroen sign on the gate.