It’s been said before: The future isn’t what it used to be. In this period newsreel, we get a sneak preview of the exciting new cars of the future for 1948.
This old newsreel segment from 1948 features three purported cars of the future. And while this particular future never came to pass, obviously, two of the cars in the clip turn out to be old friends.
+ First to appear is the 1948 Davis Divan, the dream of California entrepreneur Gary Davis. Alas, only 17 vehicles were produced before the Davis Motorcar Company went bust. Here we’re treated to several entertaining demonstrations of the Davis’s impressive maneuverability, thanks mainly to the the single front wheel’s generous steering range.
+ The third car in the film is Gordon Buehrig’s far-out 1948 Tasco prototype (read the Mac’s Motor City Garage feature here). The Tasco, which took its exterior and interior styling cues from 1940s aircraft design, is on display these days at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana.
However: The identity of the second car in the order (also shown in the lead image above) continues to evade us. We think we it looks really familiar, but maybe that’s just MCG’s advancing mental decrepitude, and we can’t come up with a name or a builder.
The aluminum body construction says Southern California aircraft industry, and the chassis is clearly of rear mid-engine layout, but beyond that, we seem to be drawing a blank. If anyone can step up and school us on this intriguing vehicle, we’d be much obliged. (Note: Reader Paul Jaray has kindly identified the aluminum-skinned streamliner as Jack Novell’s Chrysler-engined special, which was featured in workbench magazines in 1946.)
Video below.
No idea what the second one is, but I’m glad it didn’t become the norm for 1960.
It was this video, when I saw it for the first time, that convinced me I had to have a Davis. I was fortunate to be able to inspect the Tasco closely at Amelia a few years ago. Truly an amazing vehicle.
I was hoping that, as the guru of obscure and forgotten autos, you could tell me about car #2. I know I’ve seen it before but I can’t nail it down.
I was a bit puzzled at first by the need for hydraulic jacklegs in the front of the Davis. But considering the fact that you’d have to slide under front of the car to change the front wheel it was probably a wise choice to eliminate the possibility of it toppling off a conventional jack.
The missing car is Jack Norvell’s Chrysler powered car. He was from Los angeles and used some airplane parts in his car. Rear engined, dual radiator, 131mph and 18ft long are the few technical specs provided. It was featured in several magazines. (Popular Mechanics & co.) from 1946.
Thanks for your expertise! A note has been added to the copy above.