Dubonnet Dolphin, Frenchman Andre Dubonnet (pilot, racing driver

about 1 year ago

Dubonnet Dolphin,
Frenchman Andre Dubonnet (pilot, racing driver & inventor) was heir to the Dubonnet wine company and with Jean Andreau in mid 30’s created an aerodynamic streamline (teardrop) automobile utilising aeronautical concepts.

Built by coachbuilders Latourneur & Marchand and built based upon a Y-shape (Ford?) chassis with bodywork featuring two side entry doors and a single door at the front, powered by a mid-mounted Ford-Matford 3621cc V8 with a 4-speed (Cotal) electrically operated/manual transmission.

The prototype was highly efficient and performed well, receiving much attention and may have taken inspiration from or inspired many others (Geddes, Stout, Dymaxion, McQuay-Norris, Arrow, Burney, Riley, Tatra/Skoda, Mars Express etc), but was never put into production.

Henry Ford purchased the car and shipped it to America where Ford undertook a series of tests, but the only prototype has been lost to history?