Wayne's Garage Unusual Cars
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Unusual Cars
Batmobile       Pink Panther     Submarine    Thunder     



Delahaye 175S Delahaye
   
1939 Delahaye Cabriolet Delahaye 1895 - 1954
Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single or twin cylinder engines.

In 1935 the introduction of the Coupé des Alpes car model and the Model 135 car brought success to their car business. Delahayes of this period are recognized to be some of the most beautiful automobiles ever built.
   



McQuay-Norris Streamliner              McQuay-Norris Streamliner
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.


Flyer
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  KR175 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.




Turtle Car             Wooden Car  
           Too much Turtle Wax?

                     This Turtle Car and Wooden car are interesting designs, but we probably won't see them assembly line produced!







        IDEA KAZ       Toyota PM   1914 Aerodinamica
Concept Cars, click on image for more information.


The last Yugo and other auto failures



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