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 -->
  
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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".
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== Background of The Exner Era Dream Cars == <!-- Do not remove this line As it is a heading -->
 
  
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=== Quick History of Exner ===
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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.
  
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In 1932, A 23-year-old Virgil Exner was hired by GM's Art and Color Studio. Boss, Harley Earl immediately recognized Exner's design talent. Two years later Enxer was put in charge of the entire Pontiac Studio, a job he kept until 1939 when Raymond Lowry hired him to work on his studio's design contract with Studebaker. Exner worked with Lowry and Studebaker all through WWII, and when the highly advanced 47 Studebaker's were shown to the public in 1946, they were touted as "The First By Far With A Post War Car. It would be the 1949 Model year when the "Big Three" would catch up.
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'''An Interesting Excerpt from the Supercars.net web site:'''
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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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A dispute between Lowry and Exner over credit for the design of the 52 Studebaker caused Exner's firing. Studebaker wasnt impressed with the Lowry proposal for the 52s, and Exner showed them a design he'd been working on at home on his own time. Studebaker liked it and Lowry wanted credit for his employee's work. He was fired when he refused, but Studebaker picked Exner up for their in-house design team. There was little love between Lowry and Exner for the rest of each of their lives.
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Four Thunderbolts survive today.
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In 1949, Chrysler President [[K. T. Keller]] hired Exner away from Studebaker for the purpose of designing cars that would improve Chrysler's stodgy image. The Chrysler Corporation was well known for its engineering firsts, but not its styling. The Chrysler Corporation's "Small on the Outside - Big on the Inside" designs looked ancient when compared to the 49 Ford and GM offerings. Keller wanted the cars designed to where a man could drive with his hat on. This made the cars appear too tall.
 
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At first Exner worked secretly on Advance Designs, but was soon promoted to head the studio. The model year designs were already locked in through 1954, so Exner began work on the 1955 model, the first year of the "Forward Look" designs.
 
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Keller and Exner agreed that they should step up Chrysler's showing of Dream Cars to compete with Harley Earl's million dollar dream cars displayed in the Motorama shows. They felt this would create excitement with the public on updated designs that would hit the showrooms in the future. However, they would have to do it on a budget no where near the size GM had given Earl.
 
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=== Exner and Ghia ===
 
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While working on his first of the Chrysler Dream Cars, the [[K-310]], Exner and his design team were at an impasse. On a previous trip to Italy, K. T Keller commissioned both Pininfarina and Ghia to each build a car of his loose design specs, but allowed them design creativity. The purpose was not to test their design skills, but to test them for quality, fit and finish.
 
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Knowing that the Exner team was having trouble with K-310, Keller invited the team to view the cars that had just arrived from Italy. Pininfarina had closely followed the specs, while Ghia took great liberties with their allowed creativity. Ghia's car was very impressive. The Ghia submission was also far better in quality, fit an finish than the submission from Pininfarina. It was to became the [[Plymouth XX-500]] show car. In addition to Ghia's craftsmanship, their design abilities were a pleasant surprise.
 
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This began the long relationship between Chrysler and Ghia, and more importantly - collaboration between their designers.
 
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== Designer ==
 
== Designer ==
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* Alex Tremulis - lead
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* Ralph Roberts - assisted
  
 
== Chassis ==  
 
== Chassis ==  
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* Based on a 1940 Chrysler [[Crown Imperial]] frame
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* 127.5" [[wheelbase]]
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* [[Drum brakes]] front & rear
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* [[Front suspension]] is Independent with [[Coil Springs]]
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* [[Rear suspension]] is [[Live Axle]]  with [[Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs]]
  
 
== Body ==  
 
== Body ==  
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* Aluminum Body built over a Steel Frame
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* Each of the five were given its own color scheme
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* Some had polished brass accents
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* Doors operated by push button, without handles
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* Totally enclosed front and rear [[wheel wells]]
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* Flush fenders
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* Fully retractable, electrically controlled [[hardtop]]
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* Concealed headlights
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* [[Anodized]] aluminum trim at the base of the car's body
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* No recognizable [[grille]]
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* Air intakes were below the bumper
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* Lightning Bolt trim on doors
  
 
== Interior ==  
 
== Interior ==  
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* Full leather 3-abreast bench seat
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* Hydraulic power windows
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* Electro-hydraulic doors
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* Engine-turned aluminum dashboard
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== Drivetrain ==
 
== Drivetrain ==
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* Dual [[carburetor]] [[straight-eight]] Chrysler [[Engine]] of  323.5 [[cubic-inch]]s making 143 [[horsepower]]
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* [[Transmission]] is a 3-speed [[Semi-Automatic]] [[Fluid Drive]]
  
 
== Car Shows ==  
 
== Car Shows ==  
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* New York Auto Show in 1940
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*
  
 
== Movies Appeared in ==  
 
== Movies Appeared in ==  
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== Reference ==
 
== Reference ==
 
* http://www.miamilakesautomall.com/chrysler-blog/two-wildest-chryslers-ever-made-ever-seen-one/
 
* http://www.miamilakesautomall.com/chrysler-blog/two-wildest-chryslers-ever-made-ever-seen-one/
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*  
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* http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1941/thunderbolt/index.htm
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*  
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* https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z1900/chrysler-thunderbolt.aspx
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*
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* https://www.supercars.net/blog/1941-chrysler-thunderbolt/
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* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_LeBaron#Classic_generation_(1931%E2%80%931941)
  
 
== Internet Links ==  
 
== Internet Links ==  
  
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* MoparStyle.com http://www.moparstyle.com/forums/
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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

Old Hippie Ads

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