1919 Leyat Helica

Marcel Leyat was a creative genius. By 1909, he had designed, built, and flown his own airplane at a time when most people had never ridden in a car. He did, however, have a minor miss, in his belief that the future was in propeller-driven ground vehicles.

Leyat completed his initial design in 1913 and tested it extensively. Next came the 1919 production model, which is shown here. The basis for Leyat's design was that a simple, light car (no transmission, differential, or clutch required) was going to be more economical in the long run. Leyat paid close attention to details such as aerodynamics and weight. The body is fully streamlined; it boasts a full monocoque chassis and disc wheels, rather than spoke with brakes integral to the wheels. Due to its brilliant design and the use of aluminum, the car weighs a mere 625 pounds. The Leyat was shown at the 1921 Paris Auto Show, and 600 orders were received. Alas, Leyat never found financial backing and production ceased after 25 were built.

Source - Lane Motor Museum