The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 10-23-2008, 08:53 AM

We've talked about the Airflow and the Dymaxion before, but we've never really touched on the Stout Scarab and all of its wierdness. It all started with a loon...

William B. Stout was an aviator and motor journalist (Motor Age) with a wonder...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

Engine Pro 5X · 10-23-2008, 09:02 AM

Weird yes but very ROOMY as in holy shit you could put a sleeper sofa in there and still have room >>>>.

BJR · 10-23-2008, 09:15 AM

A guy was driving one around at Back to the 50's a few years ago, got a real close look at it. Very cool.

northern skink · 10-23-2008, 09:31 AM

Wheels out at the corners, flat floor, flexible seating: add a few dozen cupholders and you've got a minivan. Did this beetle come out before Porsche's?

Weasel · 10-23-2008, 09:37 AM

In this vein, there's also the McQuay Norris promo streamliners built in 1934 to tour the country and promote McQuay Norris parts to dealers. One was for sale in AZ about a dozen years ago.

flnudistcpl · 10-23-2008, 09:39 AM

DAMN what a car. Really have to give it to some of those guys back in the day who tried to make a run at it. was this the first motorhome LOL. So thats where airstream campers came from.

**gnichols** · 10-23-2008, 09:47 AM

Great seats and interior, eh? Gary

chevnut · 10-23-2008, 09:53 AM

The logo of this thing always reminded me of the HOK(House of Kolor) Logo. I wondered if this car had anything to do with it. most likely no. kool car, no doubt.

VespaJay · 10-23-2008, 09:47 AM

The Owl's Head Transportation Museum in Maine has one on display. We saw it last Spring and drooled all over it, my wife wanted to bring it home! Pictures don't do the car justice, it's even more amazing in person.

Here's their website:
http://www.ohtm.org/edu_col.html

.

**oddrodgarage** · 10-23-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VespaJay

The Owl's Head Transportation Museum in Maine has one on display. We saw it last Spring and drooled all over it, my wife wanted to bring it home! Pictures don't do the car justice, it's even more amazing in person.

Here's their website:
http://www.ohtm.org/edu_col.html

.

funky and cool

noboD · 10-23-2008, 06:34 PM

I think the one ProEnfo posted pics of is the one that was at Hershey about 10 years ago. It had a crowd ALL day and the owner was very friendly about questions.

**JeffreyJames** · 10-23-2008, 10:06 AM

Interior is way cool and the outside looks like a slug.....but in a good way. The story reminds me of the creation of the Monopoly board game. Necessity is the mother of invention, and kids speed up the process huh?

49ratfink · 10-23-2008, 10:20 AM

they may have only made a few actual cars but Buddy L toys made thousands of pressed steel versions back in the day. all the ones I ever saw in my toy collecting days were red, and I believe they all had a spring loaded motor for them to scoot across the floor. they were going for about 300 bucks in the late 80's. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.

49ratfink · 10-23-2008, 10:24 AM

49ratfink · 10-23-2008, 10:25 AM

**El Caballo** · 10-23-2008, 10:34 AM

"While on a cross country trip with this family, William began to ponder the inefficiencies of the automobile when used as a long hauler. We’ve all been there… He was cramped, his ass hurt, his back hurt, he was tired of the kids screaming, and tired of his wife’s toe prints on the front windshield as she “reclined” in the passenger seat. There had to be a better way."

Which is why I have a Suburban....

GZ · 10-23-2008, 10:46 AM

I have had the priveledge in riding in two of the Stout Scarabs. If you think they are neat from the outside, wait until you go cruising in one. At the V8 National Meet in Dearborn many years ago, I went cruising in the "ghettos" of Detroit.. The responses from the people hang'in on the streets was unbelievable.

Stout also produced a folding house trailer. It is made to fold neatly into a "box" and opens up to be a triple-wide. One of these exists and is being restored now.

Stout has a middle school named after him in Dearborn. Appropriately, it is on Oakwood Blvd, just a few blocks south from the place where he built the tri-motors for Ford. At the school, enclosed in a glass case, is the most AMAZING large scale model of a tri-motor that you have ever seen. I believe the model was built by Stout. Some of the buildings that the tri-motors were built in still exist and are used by Ford for research and development. They can be seen from Oakwood Blvd. This is now the facility that is one of Ford's proving grounds but used to be the Ford airport. It is located just across the street from the Dearborn Inn, which, arguably, was the first hotel built to serve an airport.

sixinarow · 10-23-2008, 10:48 AM

That interior does it for me. Great use of color, simplicity and form.

ProEnfo · 10-23-2008, 10:51 AM

**solid** · 10-23-2008, 07:44 PM

Great dash.

10-23-2008, 08:53 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,624	Stout Scarab We've talked about the Airflow and the Dymaxion before, but we've never really touched on the Stout Scarab and all of its wierdness. It all started with a loon... William B. Stout was an aviator and motor journalist (Motor Age) with a wonder... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

10-23-2008, 09:02 AM	#2
Engine Pro 5X Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SAUSAGE CAPITOL US of A Posts: 4,199	Re: Stout Scarab Weird yes but very ROOMY as in holy shit you could put a sleeper sofa in there and still have room >>>>. __________________ GET IN THE TRUCK JETHRO!!! WE'RE GOING TO CALIFORNIA!!! SWIMMING POOLS!!! MOVIE STARS!!!***CAN I SHOW YOU MY BEST KIELBASA ???

10-23-2008, 09:15 AM	#3
BJR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,522	Re: Stout Scarab A guy was driving one around at Back to the 50's a few years ago, got a real close look at it. Very cool.

10-23-2008, 09:31 AM	#4
northern skink Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 666	Re: Stout Scarab Wheels out at the corners, flat floor, flexible seating: add a few dozen cupholders and you've got a minivan. Did this beetle come out before Porsche's? __________________ Lift with your legs.

10-23-2008, 09:37 AM	#5
Weasel Old School HAMBer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: At my keyboard Posts: 6,154	Re: Stout Scarab In this vein, there's also the McQuay Norris promo streamliners built in 1934 to tour the country and promote McQuay Norris parts to dealers. One was for sale in AZ about a dozen years ago. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Procrastinate NOW!

10-23-2008, 09:39 AM	#6
flnudistcpl Alliance Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 112	Re: Stout Scarab DAMN what a car. Really have to give it to some of those guys back in the day who tried to make a run at it. was this the first motorhome LOL. So thats where airstream campers came from. __________________ NAKED IS AS NAKED DOES Any 1933 1934 ford parts wanted.

10-23-2008, 09:47 AM	#7
gnichols Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 6,216	Re: Stout Scarab Great seats and interior, eh? Gary __________________ Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...p?albumid=2874 http://public.fotki.com/kitbashr/

10-23-2008, 09:53 AM	#8
chevnut Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Corona, Ca Posts: 979	Re: Stout Scarab The logo of this thing always reminded me of the HOK(House of Kolor) Logo. I wondered if this car had anything to do with it. most likely no. kool car, no doubt.

10-23-2008, 09:47 AM	#9
VespaJay Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Worcester, Mass. USA Posts: 344	Re: Stout Scarab The Owl's Head Transportation Museum in Maine has one on display. We saw it last Spring and drooled all over it, my wife wanted to bring it home! Pictures don't do the car justice, it's even more amazing in person. Here's their website: http://www.ohtm.org/edu_col.html .

10-23-2008, 06:34 PM	#11
noboD Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: central Pa. Posts: 5,076	Re: Stout Scarab I think the one ProEnfo posted pics of is the one that was at Hershey about 10 years ago. It had a crowd ALL day and the owner was very friendly about questions. __________________ Hot snot, NOW we're back in business!! Doc Hudson

10-23-2008, 10:06 AM	#12
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,935	Re: Stout Scarab Interior is way cool and the outside looks like a slug.....but in a good way. The story reminds me of the creation of the Monopoly board game. Necessity is the mother of invention, and kids speed up the process huh? __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

10-23-2008, 10:20 AM	#13
49ratfink Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: S.F. bay area, California Posts: 13,180	Re: Stout Scarab they may have only made a few actual cars but Buddy L toys made thousands of pressed steel versions back in the day. all the ones I ever saw in my toy collecting days were red, and I believe they all had a spring loaded motor for them to scoot across the floor. they were going for about 300 bucks in the late 80's. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.

10-23-2008, 10:24 AM	#14
49ratfink Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: S.F. bay area, California Posts: 13,180	Re: Stout Scarab

10-23-2008, 10:25 AM	#15
49ratfink Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: S.F. bay area, California Posts: 13,180	Re: Stout Scarab

10-23-2008, 10:34 AM	#16
El Caballo Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Perth, West Australia Posts: 4,747	Re: Stout Scarab "While on a cross country trip with this family, William began to ponder the inefficiencies of the automobile when used as a long hauler. We’ve all been there… He was cramped, his ass hurt, his back hurt, he was tired of the kids screaming, and tired of his wife’s toe prints on the front windshield as she “reclined” in the passenger seat. There had to be a better way." Which is why I have a Suburban.... __________________ Road Devils - Texas RDFL

10-23-2008, 10:46 AM	#17
GZ Alliance Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 663	Re: Stout Scarab I have had the priveledge in riding in two of the Stout Scarabs. If you think they are neat from the outside, wait until you go cruising in one. At the V8 National Meet in Dearborn many years ago, I went cruising in the "ghettos" of Detroit.. The responses from the people hang'in on the streets was unbelievable. Stout also produced a folding house trailer. It is made to fold neatly into a "box" and opens up to be a triple-wide. One of these exists and is being restored now. Stout has a middle school named after him in Dearborn. Appropriately, it is on Oakwood Blvd, just a few blocks south from the place where he built the tri-motors for Ford. At the school, enclosed in a glass case, is the most AMAZING large scale model of a tri-motor that you have ever seen. I believe the model was built by Stout. Some of the buildings that the tri-motors were built in still exist and are used by Ford for research and development. They can be seen from Oakwood Blvd. This is now the facility that is one of Ford's proving grounds but used to be the Ford airport. It is located just across the street from the Dearborn Inn, which, arguably, was the first hotel built to serve an airport. __________________ GZ Last edited by GZ; 10-23-2008 at 10:54 AM. Reason: added stuff

10-23-2008, 10:48 AM	#18
sixinarow Grenade Inspector Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 152	Re: Stout Scarab That interior does it for me. Great use of color, simplicity and form.

10-23-2008, 10:51 AM	#19
ProEnfo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Motown Posts: 1,488	Re: Stout Scarab __________________ I hope you understand now that you don't need to understand. - - Bill Stinson

10-23-2008, 07:44 PM	#20
solid Alliance Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: OHIO, EAST OF THE NATTY. Posts: 1,471	Re: Stout Scarab Great dash.

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