Anyone ever see one of these?

[Big Pauly]

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

[DirtyThirty]

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...

[NONAME]

Dean Moon had one like it. don't know if he ever finished it

[GreenMtnBoy]

That is super pimpy !
I'd be really suprised if there was ever more than 1 built.

[Beach Bum]

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.

[Steve Ray]

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


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.

[fiat128]

"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.

[fiat128]

Looks like Steve Ray thought the same thing I did...

[metalshapes]

That is the Holtkamp Transporter.

http://www.renntransporter132.de/htm...p________.html

Moon later bought it, and thats why its known as the Moon Transporter.

Norman Holtkamp built it because he liked the Mercedes High Speed Transporter.

http://www.renntransporter132.de/htm..._________.html

[chaddilac]

wow! I'd hate to have a front end collision in that thing!!!

[Lobucrod]

WOW, they knocked a whole $.05 off the list price!

[alchemy]

...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".

[jonzcustomshop]

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!

[metalshapes]

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.

[banjorear]

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.

[jonzcustomshop]

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!

[fiat128]

Heres a few others from http://www.renntransporter132.de

It's a really cool site if you have the time to check it out.

[G V Gordon]

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.

[HEATHEN]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

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!

....it looks to me like its mother took thalidomide, and it was the result!

[CURIOUS RASH]

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.

[Richard D]

Wasn't $16k a LOT of money in '61?

[Big Pauly]

Originally Posted by metalshapes

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.

I knew someone would have more on it. Thanks for the later pics.

[belair]

Looks like Chevy stole the rear end for the '65 Impala.

[hubraumjugend]

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!

[Jerry_Rolls&Pleats]

Originally Posted by Richard D

Wasn't $16k a LOT of money in '61?

It would get you something like 8 Falcons.

Seriously, that thing is ugly!

[e-tek]

Holtkamp's Grandson posted on GJ - maybe you guys can hook up the cuurent owner and the builders grandson....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d=1#post426704

[southerncomfortphoto]

This was my grandfathers build... there is a lot of information on the web. I have found some awesome articles and such... happy searching

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by southerncomfortphoto

This was my grandfathers build... there is a lot of information on the web. I have found some awesome articles and such... happy searching

Very cool..

Glad you found the HAMB.

[Beach Bum]

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.

[RichG]

Originally Posted by southerncomfortphoto

This was my grandfathers build... there is a lot of information on the web. I have found some awesome articles and such... happy searching

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

[crotex]

slashed prices to save you 5 cents.

[justgret]

My dad, Norman Holtkamp, built this Cheetah

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by justgret

My dad, Norman Holtkamp, built this Cheetah

Cool...

Welcome to the HAMB.

Can you tell us a bit more about it?

Wasn't there a closed Van version of it planned?

Was he thinking about building more than one?

[metalshapes]

BTW, I saw in your profile yopu'd like to find out where it is right now.

I'll let the owner know, so he can get in touch with you.

( he is on the HAMB, so he might find this by himself...)