Devins are sought after kit cars for a variety of their reasons, including heritage and rarity, but also because they were well-built kits back in the day. They utilized a variety of floor pans and engines, with some even utilizing Porsche 356-derived powerplants. This example here on eBay is built on a Renault 4CV pan with the corresponding engine and is currently bid to $6,700 with the reserve unmet.
The story behind Devin’s founding involved Bill Devin selling a Ferrari 250 MM and then taking a 1953 Deutsch-Bonnet as partial trade – along with buying out the remaining inventory of Panhard dealer. He then had the resources he needed to begin building his dream kit car, which proved to be quite popular following its introduction. If you’re a kit car fan, be sure to check out our “Barn Finds Exclusive” Kelmark GT.
The donor car for the engine, chassis, and wheels all points to a Renault 4CV, which makes this Devin a bit more unusual in terms of its original construction. Determining the history of a kit car like this will take a fair amount of detective work, but it’s not impossible. One of our readers determined the Kelmark GT is likely an early production example, and the VIN tag indicates it was largely assembled by the factory. With a strong following for cars like the Devin, similar sleuthing is likely possible.
The seller says the Devin was discovered about 20 years ago in the midwest, and while reasonably sound, it will require complete restoration. No real details are offered in terms of any major construction or mechanical issues, but the seller does say that the “chassis and other components” will need total restoration. It’s a bit of a blank slate at the moment – how would you restore this Devin? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Craig for the find.
Aside from running the risk of having one’s head sucked into the air intake/headrest under hard acceleration, it’s a nice attempt.
You mentioned “hard acceleration.” Apparently you failed to note the Renault 4cv mechanical parts which pretty much eliminate the possibility of hard acceleration!!
Bill Devin made some terrific looking, inexpensive car bodies for people who didn’t have a lot of cash to create a homebuilt sportscar decades ago.
His bodies looked a lot like some of the bodies on certain Ferraris, namely the Testa Rossa sports racing cars of the 1950s. Now from reading Jeff’s piece on this Devin – Renault special I understand more about how Devin happened to make bodies that had a strong resemblance to certain Ferrari bodies: Devin owned a Ferrari himself, a 250 MM, an iconic and very successful 1950s Ferrari racing coupe. But as Jeff said, Devin sold his 250 MM to help kick start his body making business.
Altho I wouldn’t want to say that Bill Devin shouldn’t have started his body making business, if he had kept his 250 MM, which would have been one of the 17 cars of that type that Ferrari made, he would have a $4+ million dollar car. As much as I like the look of Devin-bodied specials, I think I’d rather have that 250 MM.
Bill Devin made some terrific looking, inexpensive car bodies for people who didn’t have a lot of cash to create a homebuilt sportscar decades ago.
His bodies looked a lot like some of the bodies on certain Ferraris, namely the Testa Rossa sports racing cars of the 1950s. Now from reading Jeff’s piece on this Devin – Renault special I understand more about how Devin happened to make bodies that had a strong resemblance to certain Ferrari bodies: Devin owned a Ferrari himself, a 250 MM, an iconic and very successful 1950s Ferrari racing coupe. But as Jeff said, Devin sold his 250 MM to help kick start his body making business.
Altho I wouldn’t want to say that Bill Devin shouldn’t have started his body making business, if he had kept his 250 MM, which would have been one of the 17 cars of that type that Ferrari made, he would have a $4+ million dollar car. As much as I like the look of Devin-bodied specials, I think I’d rather have that 250 MM.
It ain’t always about money, some of us just love cars.
Agreed Dirk, but my point was that if Devin had kept the 250MM he would have both a terrific Ferrari racing coupe that could be driven on a track or on the street, and also the value that went along with that car. So it actually is about the car.
First official action: out with the 4CV engine (21hp are a little bit less) and the engine from a Renault R8 in, best the Gordini with 92hp. That’s what the French do when they build a Hotrod based on a 4CV.
There is a Gordini version of the 4CV engine, but it only produces 30hp.
Next the disc brakes of the R8G and a 5 speed gearbox, then the Devin should be as fast as it looks.
The Devin Special dot Com pages provide articles, photos and history of the variety of Devin products including the Devin Panhards which were based on the French DB design not the later Italian design.
Scroll down to Richard (Have Gun Will Travel) Boone’s Porsche based (built before the Devin D & C cars were created) special to see a body similar to that used on the 4CV car. Note the dual head rest fairings and how good looking the Boone (?) car in Norway looks painted silver:
http://www.devinspecial.com/
Instead of a complete restoration, I think this car needs a complete completion.
Dirk, obviously you have never driven a 4CV. The acceleration (tic) would not be anything to be concerned about.
I would restore/complete it with the way that it is setup now to honor my departed father who never completed his Devin. ( his used an Oldsmobile Rocket 88 on a Henry J frame) And just to play again with a 4CV as that was my first car.
Hmmm. Maybe I should bid on this car!