CC reader Jeff B. sent me scans of two slides taken by his dad at the Expo 86 in Vancouver, BC. It’s clearly of a streamliner prototype from the 1930s, a time when a number of them were made. I’ quite sure I’ve seen pictures of it before, but just can’t come up with a name. Can any of you?
Here’s the rear:
It appears to be the Norton-Oldfield “Spirit of Tomorrow”, which was modeled after Fuller’s Dymaxion. See https://customrodder.forumactif.org/t2751-1940s-spirit-of-tomorrow-teardrop
Interesting! It’s sort of like a Porsche 356 mating with a Flxible bus.
I was thinking VW Microbus with a tail.
That settles it! What an odd vehicle, and a unique piece of BC history… I had no idea what to search for based on the pic alone. Thanks for clearing that up…
Bingo.
The overall smooth shaping of this home built looks to be VERY nicely done. With the engine sort of “mid-ships” it should have avoided the handling “quirks” of the TATRAs!!
To bad no interior shots were provided; altho the large diameter steering wheel does show……..:) DFO
It influenced automotive styling for decades:
I hope it’s still in one piece and on display somewhere here in BC.
http://www.spiritoftomorrow.com/
Last reported showing was in 2015.
Front view immediately said Dymaxion
Man the guy that built this car sure thought outside the box. The Spirit Of Tomorrow website is awesome. I highly recommend everybody check it out. Ever want to build a house that spins on its axis? Well this guy did it.
Stout Scarab
It looks like the Scarab on display at the Peterson Museum .
-Nate