The six McQuay-Norris Streamliners
produced in 1934 were built to be driven by McQuay-Norris
engine component sales representatives.
As well as advertising the company, McQuay-Norris
used the Streamliners as test-beds for new engine
components, and for this purpose the interior was
fitted with many dials and instruments to monitor
performance and engine condition.
The McQuay-Norris Streamliner's chassis and running
gear were based on a Ford V8, and the aerodynamic
bodywork was made from steel and aluminum
attached
to a wooden frame. The curved windows were made from
Plexiglas.
1934 McQuay-Norris Streamliner. Bug-eyed, bulbous
and ungainly looking, these vehicles were not
created in an attempt to break any land-speed
records,
that's for sure. Instead, they were
intended as rolling test beds and promotional
vehicles for the McQuay-Norris Company of St. Louis,
which
manufactured replacement pistons, rings,
bearings and other automotive bits and pieces that
one might need in order to rebuild an automobile
engine or
chassis.
The idea to build the cars first came in 1932, and
the task fell to Cincinnati, Ohio's Hill Auto Body
Metal Company, which used unmodified 1932-33
Ford
V-8 chassis and engines as the basis for the six
Streamliners. Bodies were constructed of steel sheet
metal attached to wood framing, with the
exception
of the doors, which were aluminum.
Notably absent from the body design are rear windows
and windshield wipers. Reportedly, the company
engineers who drove the streamliners noted that
the
faster they drove, the more visibility improved
during rainy drives, as the water rolled back thanks
to the rounded Plexiglas front window panes.
Rearward visibility was handled by rear-view mirrors
mounted on either side. The McQuay-Norris rode on
General Jumbo Airwheels, which were much
larger than
the stock Ford rolling stock, though the stock
suspension system was retained.
Briggs & Stratton Flyer
Now known for building small engines, Briggs &
Stratton built an almost-automobile from 1919 to
1925. With a wood frame doubling as chassis and
suspension. Virtually all Flyers were painted red
and were known widely as the “Red Bug”. The Flyer is
listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most
inexpensive car of all time. The book lists the 1922
Briggs & Stratton Flyer as selling from US$125 to
US$150.
A few Smith Flyers still exist in collections around
the country, and blueprints for the car are
available online.
 |
Messerschmitt, a famous
German aircraft manufacture known primarily
for its World War II fighter aircraft was
banned from making aircraft after WWII. In
1952 they started manufacturing small motor
vehicles.
Their first vehicle was the Messerschmitt
KR175 of the Kabinenroller series which
means "scooter with cabin".
The KR175 ran on a 173 cc air-cooled single
cylinder two-stroke engine positioned in
front of the rear wheel, just behind the
passenger's seat. The engine was started
with a pull rope as standard, but there was
an option of an electric starter. The
transmission was a four speed with no
synchronization or reverse gear.
The KR175 was steered with tubular steel
handlebars operated by pushing rather than
by turning. The throttle was operated by a
twist-grip on the left handlebar.
This was also the car "Cousin Itt" drove in
the Addam's Family Movie. |
Too much Turtle
Wax?
This Turtle Car and Wooden car are interesting
designs, but we probably won't see them assembly
line produced!

Concept Cars, click on image for more information.
The last Yugo and other auto
failures
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