Author Topic: Whaddyacallit #336 - Kurtis-Thorne Californian, forefather of the Davis Divan  (Read 1265 times)

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Offline Ray B.

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Ever seen this ?

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« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 02:36:40 AM by Wendax »
He Touched Me With His Noodly Appendage

Offline streamliner

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Re: Whaddyacallit #336
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2009, 01:41:07 PM »
This looks like a 1946 model of the Davis three-wheeled car...  Could it be?

Offline Ray B.

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Re: Whaddyacallit #336
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2009, 02:13:11 PM »
It is, sort of...

You'll have one point for its correct name, and another for its full story.
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Offline streamliner

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Re: Whaddyacallit #336
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2009, 02:50:16 PM »
No more free rides, I guess.  Be right back, I hope...

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Re: Whaddyacallit #336
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2009, 03:03:09 PM »
How about a more appropriate title:  "The 1945 Kurtis-Thorne Three Wheeled Roadster" being that it was built by Indy car builder Frank Kurtis for the millionaire playboy and race car builder Joel Thorne for his personal use.  It was this car that prompted Gary Davis to acquire it and use it as the basis for his own three-wheeled venture that was to become the Davis Motor CarCompany in Van Nuys, CA.  It wasn't really the Davis prototype since Davis bought thecompleted car after he saw Thorne driving it around, but Davis promoted it as the prototype for his car...



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Re: Whaddyacallit #336
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2009, 03:04:19 PM »
Oops, I meant to add that it was known as the "Californian"...

Offline Ray B.

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Re: Whaddyacallit #336
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2009, 05:52:06 PM »
You gave us the whole story, thanks.
According to Hemmings, the Kurtis-Thorne was built earlier, 1941 or 1942. And Davis made no changes to the car before building his first "Davis" prototype. So I think we can call it the "Kurtis-Thorne Californian", altough it's probably Davis at the wheel.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 02:35:49 AM by Wendax »
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