Difference between revisions of "1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Concept"

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== Background == <!-- Do not remove this line As it is a heading -->
 
== Background == <!-- Do not remove this line As it is a heading -->
  
[[Chrysler]] commissioned [[Coachbuilder]] [[LeBaron]]/[[Briggs]] to build five [[Chrysler Newport Phaeton]] and five Chrysler Thunderbolts  as  [[Concept Car]]s. The first was introduced for the 1940 New York Auto Show. The cars were primarily built to remove the stigma of the failed Imperial, Chrysler and Desoto [[Airflows]], and to answer Harley Earl's 1938 Buick Y-Job concept. Four Thunderbolts survive today. The car is also referred to as a 1940, but the 1940 is the same car. They traveled the car show circuit extensively in 1940 and 1941. It was nicknamed "The Car of the Future".
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[[Chrysler]] commissioned [[Coachbuilder]] [[LeBaron]]/[[Briggs]] to build five [[Chrysler Newport Phaeton]]s and five Chrysler Thunderbolts  as  [[Concept Car]]s. The first was introduced for the 1940 New York Auto Show. The cars were primarily built to remove the stigma of the failed [[Imperial]], Chrysler and [[Desoto]] [[Airflows]], and to answer Harley Earl's 1938 Buick Y-Job concept. The car is also referred to as a 1940, but the 1940 is the same car. They traveled the car show circuit extensively in 1940 and 1941. It was nicknamed "The Car of the Future".
  
The Thunderbolt was [[designed]] by [[Alex Tremulis]] (more recognized nearly a decade later for his design of the Tucker) with some help from Ralph Roberts. The car was named after the car that had set the land speed record of 353 mph in 1938. While the retractable top was revolutionary; it would take another 17 years before a production car would have a similar feature. That vehicle was the 1957 Ford Skyliner.  
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The Thunderbolt was primarily [[designed]] by [[Alex Tremulis]] (more recognized nearly a decade later for his design of the Tucker) with some help from Ralph Roberts. The car was named after the car that had set the land speed record of 353 mph in 1938. While the retractable top was revolutionary for the time; it would take another 17 years before a production car would have a similar feature. That vehicle was the 1957 Ford Skyliner.  
  
'''Excerpt from the Supercars.net web site:'''
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'''An Interesting Excerpt from the Supercars.net web site:'''
''7807943-Known as the ‘Copper Car’ it an original copper retractable roof and lower body trim. After extensive touring it was sold in March of 1941 and the subsequent owner who had a 331 cubic inch hemi-head Chrysler engine installed. Acquired in the 60s by Bill Harrah. Restored by Tired Iron Works of Monrovia, California in 2009 with original engine located. The Teal colour was chosen from period artwork. Displayed at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, 2009Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and offered at RM Auction’s Automobiles of Arizona sale but it was Not Sold at a high bid of $1,175,000 USD.''
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''7807943-Known as the ‘Copper Car’ it an original copper retractable roof and lower body trim. After extensive touring it was sold in March of 1941 and the subsequent owner who had a 331 cubic inch [[hemi-head]] Chrysler engine installed. Acquired in the 60s by Bill Harrah. Restored by Tired Iron Works of Monrovia, California in 2009 with original engine located. The Teal colour was chosen from period artwork. Displayed at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and offered at RM Auction’s Automobiles of Arizona sale but it was Not Sold at a high bid of $1,175,000 USD.''
  
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Four Thunderbolts survive today.
  
 
== Designer ==
 
== Designer ==
* Alex Tremulis lead
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* Alex Tremulis - lead
* Ralph Roberts assisted
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* Ralph Roberts - assisted
  
 
== Chassis ==  
 
== Chassis ==  
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* Some had polished brass accents
 
* Some had polished brass accents
 
* Doors operated by push button, without handles
 
* Doors operated by push button, without handles
* Totally enclosed front and rear wheel wells  
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* Totally enclosed front and rear [[wheel wells]]
 
* Flush fenders
 
* Flush fenders
* Fully retractable, electrically controlled hardtop
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* Fully retractable, electrically controlled [[hardtop]]
 
* Concealed headlights
 
* Concealed headlights
* Anodized aluminum trim at the base of the car's body
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* [[Anodized]] aluminum trim at the base of the car's body
* No recognizable grille
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* No recognizable [[grille]]
 
* Air intakes were below the bumper
 
* Air intakes were below the bumper
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* Lightning Bolt trim on doors
  
 
== Interior ==  
 
== Interior ==  
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* Hydraulic power windows
 
* Hydraulic power windows
 
* Electro-hydraulic doors
 
* Electro-hydraulic doors
* Bespoke aluminum dashboard
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* Engine-turned aluminum dashboard
  
  
 
== Drivetrain ==
 
== Drivetrain ==
 
* Dual [[carburetor]] [[straight-eight]] Chrysler [[Engine]] of  323.5 [[cubic-inch]]s making 143 [[horsepower]]
 
* Dual [[carburetor]] [[straight-eight]] Chrysler [[Engine]] of  323.5 [[cubic-inch]]s making 143 [[horsepower]]
* [[Transmission]] is a 3-speed [[Semi-Automatic]] [[Fluid Dive]]
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* [[Transmission]] is a 3-speed [[Semi-Automatic]] [[Fluid Drive]]
 
 
  
 
== Car Shows ==  
 
== Car Shows ==  
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== Internet Links ==  
 
== Internet Links ==  
  
* MoparWeb.com http://www.moparsweb.com  
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* MoparWeb.com https://www.moparsweb.com  
  
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Latest revision as of 20:57, 9 May 2023




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Thunderbolt1.jpg
Thunderbolt2.jpg
Thunderbolt13.jpg
Thunderbolt3.jpg
Thunderbolt4.jpg
Thunderbolt5.jpg
Thunderbolt6.jpg
Thunderbolt7.jpg
Thunderbolt8.jpg
Thunderbolt9.jpg
Thunderbolt10.jpg
Thunderbolt11.jpg
Thunderbolt12.jpg

Background

Chrysler commissioned Coachbuilder LeBaron/Briggs to build five Chrysler Newport Phaetons and five Chrysler Thunderbolts as Concept Cars. The first was introduced for the 1940 New York Auto Show. The cars were primarily built to remove the stigma of the failed Imperial, Chrysler and Desoto Airflows, and to answer Harley Earl's 1938 Buick Y-Job concept. The car is also referred to as a 1940, but the 1940 is the same car. They traveled the car show circuit extensively in 1940 and 1941. It was nicknamed "The Car of the Future".

The Thunderbolt was primarily designed by Alex Tremulis (more recognized nearly a decade later for his design of the Tucker) with some help from Ralph Roberts. The car was named after the car that had set the land speed record of 353 mph in 1938. While the retractable top was revolutionary for the time; it would take another 17 years before a production car would have a similar feature. That vehicle was the 1957 Ford Skyliner.

An Interesting Excerpt from the Supercars.net web site: 7807943-Known as the ‘Copper Car’ it an original copper retractable roof and lower body trim. After extensive touring it was sold in March of 1941 and the subsequent owner who had a 331 cubic inch hemi-head Chrysler engine installed. Acquired in the 60s by Bill Harrah. Restored by Tired Iron Works of Monrovia, California in 2009 with original engine located. The Teal colour was chosen from period artwork. Displayed at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and offered at RM Auction’s Automobiles of Arizona sale but it was Not Sold at a high bid of $1,175,000 USD.

Four Thunderbolts survive today.

Designer

  • Alex Tremulis - lead
  • Ralph Roberts - assisted

Chassis

Body

  • Aluminum Body built over a Steel Frame
  • Each of the five were given its own color scheme
  • Some had polished brass accents
  • Doors operated by push button, without handles
  • Totally enclosed front and rear wheel wells
  • Flush fenders
  • Fully retractable, electrically controlled hardtop
  • Concealed headlights
  • Anodized aluminum trim at the base of the car's body
  • No recognizable grille
  • Air intakes were below the bumper
  • Lightning Bolt trim on doors

Interior

  • Full leather 3-abreast bench seat
  • Hydraulic power windows
  • Electro-hydraulic doors
  • Engine-turned aluminum dashboard


Drivetrain

Car Shows

  • New York Auto Show in 1940

Movies Appeared in

Magazine Articles

Reference

Internet Links


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