Topic: SOLVED - Whuzzat#1 - Virgil M. Exner Jr

[Ray B.]

This young man grew up to be somebody in his line of work.

Know who it is?

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(I know at least of one Pro Puzzler who has the answer. So this one is going to stay in the Rookie Section. Have a try !)

[tymr287]

Since the car somewhat resmblesa Tucker, I'll guess Preston Tucker?

[Ray B.]

Not Tucker: that would have dated this picture about 1925, don't you think ?

[Ray B.]

Rookies don't seem to be too performing this year. Let's move that to the pros.

[Tifosi]

Dick Teague?


Dan

[Ray B.]

Nope.

[@re]

I'll tell you who he does look like:



Chris Cooper, American actor. It's impossible to find a picture of him smiling, though...

[Tifosi]

Chuck Jordan?


Dan

[Ray B.]

It could have been Jordan. But it's someone else.

[Otto Puzzell]

Wayne Cherry?

[Ray B.]

Neither. You're getting warmer, in a way.

[Otto Puzzell]

Why, that's Virgil Exner, and his 1947 Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild model.

[Otto Puzzell]

Sorry, that's Virgil Exner Jr.

[Ray B.]

Fantastic ! Not that you've found, it wasn't to tough for you, but that picture with the same model, and the expression on his face. I didn't know it.

[Ray B.]

And I'm adding a comment left on the site where i found it by one of our autopuzzlers, Mr Tuckeroo himself (hoping he will allow me):

The similarities between the Exner model (particularly the four-door, rear-engine, spinner-faced design) does bear an interesting resemblance to the Tucker ‘48. But bear in mind that the date of this article (March 1947) precedes the world premiere of the “final incarnation” of Tucker styling by three months! This was a period of intense fascination with rear-engine designs, and many of these bear remarkable similarities. One of the most interesting is this 1938 design by Walter D. Teague, Jr: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=393827467&size=o
Note that it has four doors, three lights, and a rear engine. Then there was the Tatra: http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/06/tatra-car-other-aerodynamic-marvels.html
The earliest design for the Tucker, called Torpedo, were done by George Lawson: http://www.kythepublishing.com/driving/tuckermodel.jpg
Interestingly, Lawson had started work on this design, which featured three lights, center steering, and (probably) a rear engine back in the 1930s, quite some time before being approached by Tucker. The company that Lawson worked for, and the name that was scrolled on the front of this car which would evolve into the Tucker Torpedo?? …BUICK!! (read about it here): http://www.tuckerclub.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?p=3278&sid=f1f1d69c743efe91f1d804a98d647538

Comment by Tuckeroo — December 12, 2007 @ 8:32 pm

…Also (and more on the topic), there is an excellent book on the subject of the Fisher Body Craftsman Guild: http://fisherguild.com/

Comment by Tuckeroo — December 12, 2007 @ 8:37 pm