Random Thoughts On A Busy Day

Paul seems like a good dude, he regularly responds to comments and questions on his social media. I punted social so I had no idea he was in need.

Sadly, just can't swing the Roundup this year.

I totally agree about 4-doors, here's mine!

 

To think hood ornaments were hard on pedestrians…

 

I stepped up for Paul Le Mat. A small donation, but every little bit counts.

Sometimes good people fall on hard times. This is one of those times.

I hope others who appreciate his contribution to the hot rod hobby will help as well.
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Random thoughts is right... And, I also thought of Dan's 39 when you mentioned fordors. Oh, and hate to hear about Paul. Praying things work out for him. He seems like a pretty legit dude in real life.

 

4drs, well let me get back to y'all on that. Phantom Corsair, no contest. 30s, urban legends, so far ahead of it's time, and seen recently at Amelia. It moves you. Rootin for Paul Lemat, and the property owners? Well I don't know the story so no comment. How dafuq does someone lose a Deuce chassis. No question mark on purpose. Last 2dr 50s Stude wagon I'd seen in person was tubbed with a BBC in it. No, wasn't that one. If you look close at that Chevy styling buck how many features ended up in production, and on what. 500 bonus points to the most answers. The rest of my random thoughts might get me banned so I'll invoke my miranda. Have a nice day...

 

I like this '34 because the grille is painted. I have to do that if I ever build my '34 and I was afraid it would look bad/street roddy but here it looks quite nice.

 

Also, I know this photo was doctored to move the headlights way down, is this the first documented "retouched" photo in a hot rod magazine? It's interesting just for that fact. Think of how much easier (and hard to detect) that would be to do today.

 

keep these sort of mind dumps coming, it's good for you, good for all of us. a win-win

 

If ya need one, there’s one near me.

 

IIRC The Phantom Corsair was once owned by Herb Scheibner, a television personality back in the day. There was also a picture of the Buick Wildcat, the Pontiac Club De-Mer, and the Chevrolet L'Universille van

 

The story behind the Heinz Phantom Corsair.




Rust Heinz (that’s right, from the ketchup family) had a very solid idea of the car he wanted to create. However, there was the tiny detail of Rust not having one ounce of experience when it came to anything even remotely related to the automotive world. Throwing caution to the wind – Ah, the joys of belonging to a family of millionaires… – he gave up on his naval architecture degree at Yale University to open a brand new design studio. Thankfully an aunt was nice enough to step in with the financial support (under much protest from the rest of the “Ketchup family”) and so, the conditions were set for the creation of the very first (and only) Phantom Corsair.

This car would have an estimated price of 15.000 dollars. Sure, it may not seem like a lot today, but 15 grand in the late 30’s was a huge amount of money! Let’s recall that just a few years before, the Ford Model A would set you back something like 500 dollars and even the extraordinary Cadillac V16 Imperial Sedan (like the one Al Capone had) was almost 3 times cheaper. As a result of this monetary extravagance, no orders were ever received for the Corsair.

The first scale model of Rust’s creation was taken to coachbuilders Chistian Bohman and Marice Schwartz in Pasadena, California. When it was ready, the body was attached to a custom built chassis by the AJ Bayer Company, using the same basic mechanics as the Cord (an extraordinary creation on its own). The aerodynamic body envisioned by Rust became one of the most extraordinary designs of the era (scratch that, of all times)! Every aluminum panel in the car was hand built and carefully crafted, the headlights were especially created for this model and so were the telescopic supports for the exclusive chrome fenders.

Built on a Cord chassis and using a 190bhp V8, the Corsair could move its 2 tons at over 115 miles per hour. The interior was designed to be the epitome of luxury, comfortably accommodating up to 6 passengers (4+2 – 4 in the front seat, including one passenger to the left of the driver, and 2 in the back) that could enjoy such privileges as climate control and a special dashboard, designed to minimize injuries in case of impact. To enter the vehicle there were no door handles, the access was possible by buttons linked with the car’s electric system. The driver had at his disposal a central console above the windshield that, other than the most mundane functions, could also inform him of when the doors weren’t properly closed, or when the radio or lights were left on. However, it’s important to point out that not everything about this car was style and innovation, there were some issues, especially mechanically, the most relevant of which was the overheating, caused by the small air intakes at the front (designed in such way to blend in naturally with the aerodynamic shape of Rust’s creation).

The development of the Phantom corsair was a huge financial effort. It’s estimated that between 24 and 25.000 dollars were spent to create this one of a kind Art Deco masterpiece. So obviously, some media exposure was welcome to help with sales (unfortunately, as we already know, it didn’t). The car was featured on the cover of “Motor Age” magazine, ads for it were printed on the famous “Esquire” magazine, it was even promoted on the 1939 World Fair and featured prominently in the film “The Young in Heart” alongside Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. were it was called the “Flying Wombat”.

Sadly, shortly after the only Phantom Corsair was built, Rust Heinz died after a car crash, he was only 25 years old. The car stayed in the Heinz family until 1942, being driven by its members. Somewhere along the line, the Phantom was painted gold and ended up being sold to comedian Herb Shriner who ordered a series of modifications to the vehicle in the 1950’s under the supervision of Albrecht Goertz, designer of the BMW 507. Goertz modified the front of the Corsair in order to improve air intake for the engine, redesigned the windshield to increase visibility and included two Targa like panels on the roof. Shriner kept the car until 1970.



Luckily this unique piece of automotive history was sold to hotel and casino tycoon William Harrah who just happened to be a great car enthusiast. Harrah had the means and vision restore the Corsair back to (most of) Rust’s specifications. Today, the car is part of the Harrah collection at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. It occasionally appears in public like at the 2006 Goodwood Festival, 2007 Pebble Beach Concours and 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.



The Phantom Corsair is without a doubt one of the great icons of automotive design in the Art Deco era. What I really love about it is the fact that it’s one man’s vision, one man’s dream, a physical manifestation of an idea far ahead of its time. It’s impossible to look at the Phantom and not wonder about Heinz’s future in the car industry if he hadn’t met his untimely demise. If this was just the preamble of his work, his very first try…what other extraordinary things would he have created?

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Being a big fan of Space/Jet Age styling, this one blows my mind a bit. Pre-war? Must have been inspired by Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon comics of the time? That's a wild thought.



Joe

 

I thought you sold the Model A sedan to McPhail? If I remember correctly, you could see a fingers width of light thru the rear where it was "chopped".

 

Quote from @Ryan
Two random cars from my life. The first is a ’32 Ford frame that I started assembling while I was in college. I have no idea what happened to it….....

What I want to know is.........how does one lose a deuce frame?

 

On the concept cars, Phantom Corsair and Harley Earls LeSaber are still my favorite kick ass rides, when it comes to total freedom of thought towards design !

Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts about great cool topics and projects!

 

I don't care what anyone says....I'm driving the L'Universelle everywhere!

Certainly, I've never been a fan of 4 doors like most car guys....parts cars. Then I got my 4dr A sedan. I can dig it, and @Dan Hay's...I forgot you had that! Perfect!!!!

 

Speaking of the ‘38, anything new? Last I heard it was getting a stout Y-block upgrade?

 

If you were around in the 80s you probably remember Danny Brent. Pretty sure he used up EVERY available 37 Ford to build the 436 ones he put on the road back then

 

Thanks Boss,.... I'm sure Paul appreciates it more than anybody knows.

 

Random thought throughout the day.
Driving the bus this morning I was glad I set up my fuel gauge to have 5 gallons when on E.
Dang 7 mpg sux but it’s fun.
Making sure students turn in permission forms for our field trip.
We get to touch indy cars next week.
Did my son get a price on the 55 f100 yet?
I got a bunch of paperwork to do.
What’s for lunch. My oldest was born on 4-20. I bet he gets a bunch of crap about that. Dang. That means the wife’s is coming up.
I need to pick up the FE and y-block parts at my uncles. Where am I gonna keep the 65 Chevy truck stored at my friends house?
FE, y block or hemi in the merc?
Should I build the SWB or LWB frame for my 49?
I got to pick up paint at the ppg store. Ohhh a power roller for tubing. Cool. How much?
Well crap. The scrap yard closes early today.
WOW. Zebra cake doughnuts. Mmmm
I think I’ll wear my SpongeBob shirt to the Mexican restaurant

 

Sorry to hear about Paul. He's so easy to identify with, and let the brain blast around in that 32. My cousins had a 5-window back in the early 60's, and I gotta admit, they have a whole different cruize feeling !!! I helped, and hope that everyone else does !!!

 

That post by @Ryan is exactly what goes on in my head daily…a random montage of random thought about random things.

 

Rusty did a Heinz 57 delivery truck.

 

Man, you really do have random thoughts! Focus man, focus!
Squirrel!!

 

American Graffiti Le Mat bucks sent..thanks Ryan..

 

I need to call the machine shop and check on a crank.
Is the radiator shop finished with my radiator?
My shop is a mess.
Oooooh. Fresh cookies in the oven. Mmmmm