Topic: ERP Puzzle #1905 - 1935 Bubble Top Car by Alex Tremulis

[Otto Puzzell]

... as in: Easy Rookie Point. Probably quickly solved, but cool illustrations like this should be shared.

Know the story? For 1 point, please respond below and identify the vehicle pictured, and the illustrator.  

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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own

Thanks!

[Vincent Vell Vet]

ERP IYKI (If You Know It).
Not easy if you don't. 

[f1fan]

Maker is easy.  His biopic starred Jeff Bridges.

[Vincent Vell Vet]

Ok, now I see a Tucker in there somewhere.
Tomorow I'll dig for who drew it if someone doesn't beat me to it.

[f1fan]

Illustrator? Alex Tremulis?

[Otto Puzzell]

That's the illustrator. Not technically a Tucker, this car was referred to by a general reference to it's configuration.

[f1fan]

A styling exercise?

[Vincent Vell Vet]

Strangely chunky proportions, especially when you consider the sleek (for it's time) Tucker.
Though you did say it's not actually a Tucker, do i understand this drawing sort of lead to what became the Tucker?

[Otto Puzzell]

I don't think that car was even a twinkle in the eye of Mr Tucker when the puzzle illustration was done. This drawing predates the Tucker 48 by over a decade.

[f1fan]

Penned by Alex Tremulis in 1936 while under the employ of the legendary Auburn-Cord-Duesey.

[Vincent Vell Vet]

I don't think that car was even a twinkle in the eye of Mr Tucker when the puzzle illustration was done. This drawing predates the Tucker 48 by over a decade.

Interesting.
The Tucker of course had it's mill in the back, and judging by the little vents on the rear deck, it' seems the artist was thinking rear engine placement

[Otto Puzzell]

Alex was all about rear engines. Here's an illustration he did of a similar proposed Bantam

[Otto Puzzell]

Penned by Alex Tremulis in 1936 while under the employ of the legendary Auburn-Cord-Duesey.

My source says '35, but close enough.

[streamliner]

Good job, f1fan, tracking this one down.  Keep it up!

Here's the date of the drawing:



Although Tremulis had been drawing Duesenbergs for customers for their in-house "Walker" design team since 1933 (he styled some of the best: the 1934 Walker-LeGrande Model J Convertible/Coupes - J530, J534 and J535), I don't think he was hired as the Chief Stylist until December, 1936.  So this may have been done during one of his stints at Briggs under John Tjaarda, another rear-engined fan and streamlining advocate.  When I find the answer, I'll post it...

The 1935 date came from a photocopy that Tremulis had signed "1935" many years later as a gift to someone.  Tremulis had stated previously that he relied upon this rendering as inspiration for the final design of the Tucker '48.  Always ahead of his time, that little fixture on top of the bubbletop was a turn indicator up high so that everyone would be able to see your intentions.