Register now to get rid of these ads!

Anyone ever see one of these?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Big Pauly, Dec 4, 2007.

  1. Big Pauly
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 434

    Big Pauly
    Member

    I was looking through some old mags and saw this December 61 Car and Driver. I have never seen one of these and figure they were not big sellers at the listed price, but thought maybe one of you may have, or know something about it. Notice the El Camino cab. It is pretty goofy, but thought I would share


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  2. DirtyThirty
    Joined: Mar 8, 2007
    Posts: 2,396

    DirtyThirty
    Member
    from nowhere...

    that thing is C-O-O-L Pauly...
    They were doing all sorts of weird stuff like that, back then...I can remember a car carrier, in a mag my father had, where the deck hung over the cab, and the pass. compartment was over-hung in front of the steering axle like that...very George Jetson...
     
  3. Dean Moon had one like it. don't know if he ever finished it
     
  4. That is super pimpy !
    I'd be really suprised if there was ever more than 1 built.
     

  5. Beach Bum
    Joined: May 7, 2006
    Posts: 573

    Beach Bum
    Member

    It's a one-off. A hot rodder's interpretation of the Mercedes high speed transporter. I think it's still around but I'm not sure. I've always thought it would be so cool to build something like that to haul around my Devin-TR. Let's see, all I'd need is time, money, parts, a garage, oh, and actual talent. Yup, just pull together those few things and I'll be all set!

    Kurt O.
     
  6. Steve Ray
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 693

    Steve Ray
    Member

    Never saw that; looks like a one-off inspired by the Mercedes racing transporter of 1954-55:

    [​IMG]
    http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_109129/article.html

    The idea was to be able to return a damaged or defective car from any of the European race tracks to the factory and back for repairs that couldn't be done at the track, or to get it to the race at the last minute after a few extra hours of work.

    Mercedes recreated the 300 SL- powered transporter that carried the W196 Grand Prix cars in 1954-55; the original one was scrapped after Mercedes left racing in 1955.
     
  7. fiat128
    Joined: Jun 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,426

    fiat128
    Member
    from El Paso TX

    "Buy 2 and save more"

    Now that's funny. I'd bet they built one. Still cool. The europeans built lots of these one offs like this Mercedes back in the 50's 60's. There's a bunch of weird Fiat and Lancia transport trucks floating around that Ferrari used.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. fiat128
    Joined: Jun 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,426

    fiat128
    Member
    from El Paso TX

    Looks like Steve Ray thought the same thing I did...
     
  9. metalshapes
    Joined: Nov 18, 2002
    Posts: 11,138

    metalshapes
    Member

  10. chaddilac
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,021

    chaddilac
    Member

    wow! I'd hate to have a front end collision in that thing!!!
     
  11. Lobucrod
    Joined: Mar 22, 2006
    Posts: 4,122

    Lobucrod
    Alliance Vendor
    from Texas

    WOW, they knocked a whole $.05 off the list price!
     
  12. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    ...can cruise all day at 85 MPH, yet handles like a VW minibus...

    Is this supposed to be good? I think the "ad" in the magazine is a spoof, and it's actually a "feature".
     
  13. jonzcustomshop
    Joined: Jun 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,927

    jonzcustomshop
    Member

    there was a write up about it in the book "the cobra in the barn" It was a one off that moon later bought and sold. they said something about it nose- diving when unloaded.... The guy built it in 59, and bought the elcamino body right off the assembly line- how cool is that!
     
  14. metalshapes
    Joined: Nov 18, 2002
    Posts: 11,138

    metalshapes
    Member

    It was used but because the wheelbase was so short, it would would lift lift the rear wheels during heavy braking ( unloaded, probably)

    So they pushed the rear axle back.
    Moon also changed the Brakes for better ones, and did some more stuff to it.

    In its modified form, it wasn't finished.

    Some pics off it, and off the Mercedes that inspired it.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,479

    banjorear
    Member

    Really cool stuff. I love those Eurotrash haulers!

    I guess $.05 was big money back then since they SLASHED prices from $16K to $15,999.95.
     
  16. jonzcustomshop
    Joined: Jun 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,927

    jonzcustomshop
    Member

    It isn't practical, and when you get down to it it is plain ugly, but it is a 59 elcamino... and I just like it anyway!
     
  17. fiat128
    Joined: Jun 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,426

    fiat128
    Member
    from El Paso TX

  18. G V Gordon
    Joined: Oct 29, 2002
    Posts: 5,713

    G V Gordon
    Member
    from Enid OK

    Driving a vehicle where you set that far ahead of the axle is a real experience. You see the bump, then about the time you start thinking,"that wasn't so bad" the axle hits it. Because you are ahead of the axle, you better have your seat belt on or you will be peeling yourself off the roof.

    New Holland hay wagons were set up that way, the early ones had 460 Fords in them. Ran like hell with the govener unhooked.
     
  19. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 8,558

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY


    ....it looks to me like its mother took thalidomide, and it was the result!
     
  20. CURIOUS RASH
    Joined: Jun 2, 2002
    Posts: 9,635

    CURIOUS RASH
    Classified's Moderator

    If I had a dog that ugly I'd shave its ass and teach it to walk backwards....



    I can certainly see why it would dive.
     
  21. Wasn't $16k a LOT of money in '61?
     
  22. Big Pauly
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 434

    Big Pauly
    Member

    I knew someone would have more on it. Thanks for the later pics.
     
  23. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Looks like Chevy stole the rear end for the '65 Impala.
     
  24. hubraumjugend
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 4

    hubraumjugend
    Member

    Hi there from Germany, my name's Norman and I'm 25 years old . I'm very interested in the Holtkamp's hauler. It's very important to me to know, where the car ist today. Does anyone know, in which museum of the US I could take a closer look? More details about the history of that car would be great, too. Maybe, someone knows, that it was wrecked or it is in private property today. Please let me know everything about that car, so I would visit the US next month for that car. Thanks a lot!
     
  25. Jerry_Rolls&Pleats
    Joined: Apr 19, 2006
    Posts: 327

    Jerry_Rolls&Pleats
    Member
    from Europe

    It would get you something like 8 Falcons.

    Seriously, that thing is ugly!
     
  26. e-tek
    Joined: Dec 19, 2007
    Posts: 424

    e-tek
    Member
    from SK, Canada

  27. southerncomfortphoto
    Joined: Nov 13, 2010
    Posts: 1

    southerncomfortphoto
    Member
    from Nashville

    This was my grandfathers build... there is a lot of information on the web. I have found some awesome articles and such... happy searching
     
  28. metalshapes
    Joined: Nov 18, 2002
    Posts: 11,138

    metalshapes
    Member

    Very cool..

    Glad you found the HAMB.
     
  29. Beach Bum
    Joined: May 7, 2006
    Posts: 573

    Beach Bum
    Member

    The HoltKamp/Moon transporter is now owned by a fellow in Florida who collects and restores vintage fiberglass "kit" cars. He runs the "Forgotten Fiberglass" web site.

    Cheers,
    Kurt O.
     
  30. RichG
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 3,919

    RichG
    Member

    Right on, I love these threads getting pulled back to the top with posts like this!:)
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.