Here’s an idea that was well before its time… but somehow, its time never came: the Park-Car invented by Brooks Walker.
This gadget is a perfect candidate for the “New Inventions” departments in the popular workbench magazines of back in the day. Each month, the pages of Popular Science, Mechanix Illustrated, and the rest would be full of wonderful and clever (if not totally practical) gizmos like this. We still have inventions and innovations here in the 21st century, of course, and lots of them, but it’s all become so commonplace that we often misplace our sense of wonder.
Brooks Walker, a California lumber guy, first patented his Park-Car invention in 1932, and installed it on a 1933 Packard for demonstrations, mesmerizing newsreel audiences of the ’30s. In a nutshell, the device was an extra wheel-and-tire assembly that would lift the rear of the vehicle, enabling effortless parallel parking, 360-degree zero-radius turns, and other impressive maneuvers. Later, Mr. Walker adapted the Park-Car to a 1951 Cadillac, 1953 Packard Cavalier, and a Saab, and while he never managed to sell the Detroit automakers on his invention, it’s still engaging and entertaining car enthusiasts to this day. Video follows.
Over the years, I’ve seen short video clips here and there that show the early ’50s Cadillac moving in & out of the parking space and doing the 180 degree turn in the driveway before backing into the garage. Here, finally, is the rest of the story, complete with the guy who came up with the idea in the first place.
Interesting post – thank you.
I watched this video some time ago and was quite impressed/amused with the idea. I could see where this could be quite handy but then I wonder about the cost overall. Maybe that’s why none of the car manufacturers were interested.