1930 Voisin C23 Conduite Intérieure

47001roadFrance

Engine: 3.0L inline-six sleeve-valve, ~80 bhp

Voisin C23 chassis 47001, believed to be the first or second example of the model produced, carries its original factory-built conduite intérieure body designed by Gabriel Voisin himself — a rarity among the approximately 15 surviving C23s. Powered by a three-litre six-cylinder sleeve-valve engine producing around 80 bhp, the car was introduced with the C23 range in 1930. A photograph from the 1950s bears a notation suggesting a possible connection to Prince Bira of Thailand, though this is unconfirmed. The car passed through a Dutch air force museum before entering private Dutch ownership, and underwent a thorough restoration between 2005 and 2008 costing approximately €160,000.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold €275,000 (≈ $303K)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
→ 1992Acquisition unknown
Airforce Museum, Soesterberg
partial documentation
The vehicle was kept on display at this Dutch military aviation museum after being exported from Britain, remaining there until 1992.
1992 → 2001Acquisition unknown
R.T. Meijer
partial documentation
Enjoyed the car personally until his death in 2001; no restoration activity is noted during his ownership.
2005 →Inheritance
A. Th. Meijer
full documentation
Brother of the previous owner, based in Wassenaar near The Hague; commissioned a thorough restoration between 2005 and 2008 costing approximately €160,000, covering bodywork, mechanical work, chrome and nickel plating, and interior refurbishment. Paintwork was carried out by Martin Dijkhof, and interior fabric was reproduced in France from a surviving original sample.
Date unknown
Prince Bira (possible, unconfirmed)
none documentation
A photo taken in Britain during the 1950s carries a handwritten note on its reverse suggesting this car previously belonged to the Thai royal family member and privateer racing driver, though no other evidence supports this claim.
Date unknown
UK-based owner (identity unknown)
partial documentation
The car was photographed in the UK during the 1950s and remained there until export to the Netherlands before 1985; no named owner is identified for this period.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2005
Restoration
Full restoration spanning three years encompassing bodywork, mechanical overhaul, chrome and nickel plating of components, and complete interior retrimming. Original engine internals were retained where possible given their well-preserved state. Interior fabric was matched to a surviving fragment of what appeared to be the original material, which was replicated by a French supplier.
Total expenditure on the restoration was approximately €160,000. The project ran from 2005 to 2008 and was commissioned by A. Th. Meijer.
—Bodywork
Martin Dijkhof
High-quality exterior repaint carried out by specialist Martin Dijkhof as part of the broader restoration work.

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