OT - The Wild 1936 Zephyr Land-Yacht - Streamlined Design by Brooks Stevens

[t-head]

The Zephyr Land-Yacht, a Streamlined Design by Brooks Stevens: Clifford Brooks Stevens was one of the most talented industrial designers of the 20th century. Today we are featuring the story behind his design of this exceptional flathead-powered truck and trailer combo. See much more including the patents at on The Old Motor.

[Vic Piano]

That is very cool, I'd love to find it.

[sortkaffekop]

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

That is very cool, I'd love to find it.

Love the curves. Must be made in the wind tunnel for VERY high speeds…

[Vic Piano]

Yes, that was the style in the mid 1930's. The Chrysler Airflow was a Streamlined Aerodynamic design, as was the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr. There were other makes that went the streamline route however, the most successful, in terms of actual sales, was the Lincoln Zephyr.

[t-head]

Originally Posted by sortkaffekop

Love the curves. Must be made in the wind tunnel for VERY high speeds…

It was built on an International cab-over-engine chassis w/a flathead six.

Within a year the engine was swapped for a "Heavy-Duty" Ford flathead V-8. Combined w/the two-speed rear axle it had a reported cruising speed of 75 mph.

[nospartsman]

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The tractor exists and is in the shop of a V8 collector in the Milwaukee suburbs. He also owns a 1936 flathead LB powered Stout Scarab.

[Vic Piano]

Originally Posted by nospartsman

The tractor exists and is in the shop of a V8 collector in the Milwaukee suburbs. He also owns a 1936 flathead LB powered Stout Scarab.

I'd like to see the tractor. I saw a Scarab at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance a few years ago, also very cool.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by nospartsman

He also owns a 1936 flathead LB powered Stout Scarab.

The STOUT Scarab was built by the same William B. Stout of Ford Tri-Motor fame. DD

[Torchie]

Originally Posted by t-head

The Zephyr Land-Yacht, a Streamlined Design by Brooks Stevens: Clifford Brooks Stevens was one of the most talented industrial designers of the 20th century. Today we are featuring the story behind his design of this exceptional flathead-powered truck and trailer combo. See much more including the patents at on The Old Motor.

Beyond Cool!!!
The original 5th wheeler.
Torchie.

[t-head]

Originally Posted by nospartsman

The tractor exists and is in the shop of a V8 collector in the Milwaukee suburbs. He also owns a 1936 flathead LB powered Stout Scarab.

Thanks, Great to know that it has survived. What kind of shape is it in? I would like to know more. If you can would you contact me here:

http://theoldmotor.com/?page_id=103770

[Ross F-1]

What exactly is a "heavy duty Ford flathead V8", ca. 1936?

[t-head]

Originally Posted by Ross F-1

What exactly is a "heavy duty Ford flathead V8", ca. 1936?

To be honest with you I don't know, but that is a direct quote from Brooks Stevens. I would assume that it was a truck motor.

[jimTN]

I believe there was a small neighborhood museum with Steven's stuff in Milwaukee a few years ago. I visited one there and it had lots of interesting stuff including a electric motorcycle and elec Stude Lark and some unusual things like a x engine car.

[Lawrie]

There is also one that looks very like that in the petersen museum in LA last time I was there.
Lawrie

[mike42]

Didn't Brooks also start up the Excalibur Motor Car Company in Milwaukee ?

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by jimTN

I believe there was a small neighborhood museum with Steven's stuff in Milwaukee a few years ago. I visited one there and it had lots of interesting stuff including a electric motorcycle and elec Stude Lark and some unusual things like a x engine car.

Sadly, the museum was closed in 1999 and the collection dispersed.

Originally Posted by mike42

Didn't Brooks also start up the Excalibur Motor Car Company in Milwaukee ?

Yes. From Wiki:
The Excalibur automobile from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a car styled after the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK by Brooks Stevens for Studebaker. Stevens subsequently formed a company to manufacture and market the cars, which were conventional under their styling.[1]

A prototype premiered at car shows in 1964, fitted on a Studebaker chassis and using a 290-horsepower Studebaker 289 V-8. Studebaker subsequently ceased its operations, ending the availability of its 289 V-8. General Motors friends Ed Cole and "Bunkie" Knudsen agreed to provide Brooks Stevens with Chevrolet 327s in 300-bhp Corvette tune, making the 2100-pound Excalibur a strong performer. With the standard 3.31:1 rear axle, acceleration from 0-60 mph took less than five seconds. Projected top speed was 160 mph.