Leyat Hélica 2H Conduite Intérieure

In 1921, aircraft builder Marcel Leyat designed this revolutionary vehicle. His philosophy was simple: low weight, a streamlined shape, and straightforward engineering were meant to deliver high speed.

The propeller car The Helica is powered by a large propeller at the front, connected to an air cooled two cylinder engine. As a result, a gearbox and clutch were not needed. The Helica only drives forward; going in reverse requires a push, which takes little effort due to the low weight of 250 kilos. The steering wheel controls the steering rear axle. The fixed front axle has drum brakes with four brake shoes per wheel, operated by two brake pedals. Thanks to the low weight and the fish shaped body, the Helica reaches 90 km/h. In this closed version there is room for two people sitting one behind the other. This Helica always remained in the possession of the Peugeot family, the first owner, and is still completely original. It was driven from 1921 through 1925. After that it disappeared into a garage near Beaune. When German troops fled in 1944, they used the car as a getaway car. The driver could not handle the unusual steering and soon crashed into an apple tree, damaging the propeller and leaving the car behind. That is why it has been preserved. Around 1970 the car was moved to a storage facility in Paris. At the end of 2024 the grandson of the first owner decided that it was time to show the car to the public.