Hélica de Marcel Leyat, l'un des modèles. Cnum - Digital Conservatory of Arts and Crafts - by Édouard Beaugrand, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons — Hélica de Marcel Leyat, l’un des modèles. Cnum – Digital Conservatory of Arts and Crafts – by Édouard Beaugrand, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

I’ve always been fascinated by the evolution of automobile technology. A little while back, I came across an interesting piece of automotive history that I had never heard of before the Leyat Hélica.

Discovering the Leyat Hélica: A Fascinating Piece of Automotive History.

La Voiture a Helice Leyat Classic-Days 2022 DSC 0094 Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. — La Voiture a Helice Leyat Classic-Days 2022 DSC 0094 Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo portrait of Marcel Leyat (1885-1986), a French Engineer, founder of Les établissements Leyat (Paris, 1913-1927).

The Leyat Hélica, also known as the Helicar, was a propeller-propelled car designed by Frenchman Marcel Leyat in the 1920s. Its unique design was inspired by the concept of an aeroplane, with a large propeller mounted at the front of the car that would propel it forward.

1922 Leyat Hélica cutasy of Liam Walker, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

Despite its unconventional design, the Leyat Hélica was surprisingly efficient and had a top speed of around 60 mph. It was also incredibly lightweight, weighing in at only 350 pounds. However, the car’s lack of brakes and steering mechanism made it challenging to control, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Leyat car - Epoqu'auto 2007 .Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. — Leyat car – Epoqu’auto 2007. Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Leyat car 1 - Epoqu'auto 2007. Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. — Leyat car 1 – Epoqu’auto 2007. Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.

While the Leyat Hélica was ultimately a commercial failure, it remains a fascinating piece of automotive history. Its unique design and creative propulsion system paved the way for future advancements in automobile technology, and it serves as a reminder that sometimes the most unconventional ideas can lead to groundbreaking innovations.

1922 Leyat - Flickr - exfordy. Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons — 1922 Leyat – Flickr – exfordy. Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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