1932 Helicron (France) - AllCarIndex

The Helicron is a one-of-a-kind, propeller-driven car built in France in 1932, designed with an unconventional approach to automotive propulsion. Unlike traditional cars of the time, the Helicron uses a front-mounted propeller to drive the vehicle, a concept inspired by the burgeoning aviation industry of the early 20th century. Entrepreneurs of the era believed that propeller power was an efficient means of moving a vehicle, leading to the creation of several experimental cars like the Helicron.

The car’s design is distinctive, utilizing a flipped Rosengart chassis, which positioned the steering at the rear wheels. This unusual setup required extensive modifications to the frame and steering system. Instead of a traditional throttle pedal, the Helicron features a lever on the left side of the steering wheel to control the engine’s RPM, allowing for precise speed adjustment. With no transmission, the vehicle's simplicity is key to its lightweight build, weighing only 454 kg (1,001 lbs).

Originally, the Helicron was equipped with a four-stroke two-cylinder engine, but this was lost during the decades it was abandoned. When the car was rediscovered in a barn in 2000, a Citroën GS flat-four engine from the 1980s was installed, replacing the original motor. This engine powers the front-mounted wooden propeller and can propel the car to speeds of up to 75 mph (121 km/h).

After its barn find, the Helicron underwent a meticulous restoration. The wooden frame was sandblasted and treated, the steering gear was rebuilt, and the interior was reupholstered. Remarkably, many of the original mechanical components, such as the wire wheels, dashboard, steering wheel, and brake pedal, remain intact. The car passed a French safety inspection in 2000, allowing it to be driven on public roads once again.

Now residing in the Lane Motor Museum in the United States and displayed at the Automobile and Fashion Museum in Málaga, Spain, the Helicron stands as a fascinating example of early automotive experimentation. Its unique blend of aviation and automotive engineering, along with its restored condition, makes it a remarkable piece of history that continues to captivate enthusiasts today.