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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2010 => Topic started by: Ray B. on August 18, 2009, 05:53:06 PM

Title: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Ray B. on August 18, 2009, 05:53:06 PM
(http://autopuzzles.com/RayB.stuff/wdyci400.jpg)

A kind of bigfoot streamliner for my number 400.

Do you know what its is? Please respond below and let us know the make and model of the car posted here.
I only have a name and some details about it, but little certainty. So this is a 2 points puzzle.

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer. You can do so by clicking here (http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?action=register).
Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on August 26, 2009, 08:48:17 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: pnegyesi on August 26, 2009, 11:30:47 AM
I found a few late 1930 home-built "teardrop" specials, built in the USA. Is this one of them?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on August 26, 2009, 05:58:41 PM
You tell me (read my post more carefully)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on September 07, 2009, 05:20:12 PM
Pros?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: 250gto on September 15, 2009, 04:03:30 PM
Is it a McQuay Norris?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: streamliner on September 16, 2009, 12:02:37 PM
I'm going with the 1932 Hill Arrow Plane...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on September 17, 2009, 11:19:43 AM
Don't you think it would have been easy to google both those names and check that it's neither of those?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: pnegyesi on November 09, 2009, 06:43:17 AM
Those wheels, tires, its size suggest this: "Hill Auto Body went on to build the Arrow Plane – inspired McQuay Norris streamliners, the Grove Laboratory land yacht and, in 1936, a gigantic streamliner for Bromo Seltzer on a bus chassis. "

Does anyone got a photo on the "gigantic streamliner"?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on November 09, 2009, 08:30:35 AM
I don't. This is to small to be the "gigantic streamliner" but there is a tire company involved (its name appears on the photo, but I masked it).
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on November 19, 2009, 11:57:10 AM
What about putting this one to be nursed in the Pros secret garden?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 06, 2010, 10:31:52 AM
Can it be the Bremac from Sidney, Ohio, 1932?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on January 16, 2010, 05:32:43 AM
Hard to tell from such a drawing. It's not the name i have (but my source gives no details at all).
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: GrahamClayton on January 19, 2010, 12:03:17 AM
The closest car I could come up with was the 1934 McQuay-Norris streamliner, which although similar, is not identical:

<<< Link Removed >>>
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Otto Puzzell on January 19, 2010, 04:31:16 AM
Graham - no links allowed when proffering an answer.

Please read: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=6856.msg43125#msg43125

Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on January 23, 2010, 05:19:58 AM
It''s not the McQuay Norris.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: pnegyesi on February 03, 2010, 10:57:27 AM
Is there a Hoppe or a Streut mentioned related to this car?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on February 05, 2010, 11:10:50 AM
Not as I know.
But there is a "Riley" (not the british make).
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 05, 2010, 06:24:33 PM
Samuel Eliot built a serie of 3 rear-engined sedans, called Crickets....#3 of 1937 is quite known, could it be one of the other two? They were made in Boston and Holliston, Massachusetts during the 30s.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on February 06, 2010, 05:41:05 AM
I honestly don't know. Except that it's not the name I have. As this seems rather hard, I am posting the untouched picture of the car.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 06, 2010, 05:54:15 AM
Thank you.
Isn't that sign saying: "General Streamline Jumbo"?
I'm looking into the Standard Catalog.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 06, 2010, 05:57:46 AM
Nothing unger: Major - General - Jumbo - Riley.
I'll look for Baltimora based companies, but it will take some time.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 06, 2010, 06:15:39 AM
none of the 26 makers from Baltimora can be responsable for this...
none of the 11 makers from Akron Ohio, where the General Tire & Rubber Co was based, either
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 06, 2010, 06:59:17 AM
I've found this picture elsewhere, tagged as the Libby Body Riley Head car
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400
Post by: Ray B. on February 06, 2010, 07:03:45 AM
A Bingo for Otto!
Libby is also the name I have, but nothing else. Yet I have it from the files of a very well-known specialist so I accept it. As for "Riley Head" a quick check showed me that they appear to be some improved cylinder heads (like Ardun) used with Ford flatheads.
Now, in our endless quest for those 1930's streamliners, if anyone can bring some more and important information about this one, there might be another point to take.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 06, 2010, 07:46:20 AM
Tear Drop car, built by Libby Body Works of Kansas City, Missouri. The Ford Model A engine was in the rear and had Riley two-port head.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: pnegyesi on February 06, 2010, 07:56:10 AM
Built for the Young Advertising Co. All aluminum body. Model A Ford steering, axles. Designed by "Miehl".
There are  Pierce Arrow headlights on the fenders that turned with the wheels,
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Ray B. on February 06, 2010, 09:36:41 AM
Wow! That car was an almost complete mystery, in in a few hours we have a galore of details. I may have been a little too generous, but I have to give you a point each or eat my hat.
But it's over now.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Ray B. on February 16, 2010, 12:19:33 PM
The car and its whole story just made it to the Hemmings blog.
With the same picture as the unretouched one I've posted, but with much better quality.
Do I need to add the link?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Allemano on February 16, 2010, 12:27:58 PM
They have a search engine as well, so, I think you needn't
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 16, 2010, 12:37:32 PM
Not a mention to AP..but this article show up after Ray posted it...just coincidence?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Ray B. on February 16, 2010, 12:51:37 PM
I've posted a comment giving the link to Autopuzzles, but it's not been validated yet.

I think that I had found the picture in a website probably related to Geoff Hacker (if not managed by himself). We've featured in Autopuzzles many cars or streamliners that he found, sometimes bought and restored. We may have done it did at times before him, but most of the time he came first.
So it's time that we pay our respects to the man. More on him on the Hemmings blog.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 16, 2010, 12:58:17 PM
My curiosity was genuine...some time AP is mentioned so there is no doubt that they will do if it was the case. I found it strange that it happened just few days later.
I like that site too and G. Hacker is a goldmine of info.  ;)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Geoff Hacker on February 16, 2010, 03:20:33 PM
Ray, Paul, and Gang...

Thanks for the kind words and common interest in these unusual cars.  I've loved teardrop cars since I was growing up in the 1960's.  My parents were going to school at SIU in Southern Illinois, and were students of Bucky Fuller - who told me as a kid about his Dymaxion.  Talk about being schooled by the right person!  But I was only 6 so it doesn't count.

Since I'm new to this group, I'm not sure if I violate the rules but here's a link to another streamliner I recently found:

link deleted

link deleted

link deleted


Hope you enjoy....

Geoff Hacker
Tampa, Floriida

Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Ray B. on February 16, 2010, 04:52:18 PM
Geoff, the only rule that you broke is the "links forbidden rule ". Like the journalists somehow, the members are required not to reveal their sources. How could they keep finding good puzzles if everyone could find where. Let them find these by themselves if they can.

But we knew your story with this one too: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=7767.0 and are proud to count you as an Autopuzzler.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 16, 2010, 06:31:21 PM
Hi Geoff!
welcome aboard!
We love streamliners too: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=7705.0  ;)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: RayTheRat on November 10, 2012, 04:04:09 PM
The Riley 2-port head was an aftermarket conversion to an F-head setup for Ford Model A and B 4-banger motors.  They had 2 overhead intake valves and 1 exhaust valve (in the block) per cylinder.  They were arguably the most cost-effective head conversions for Model As.  Others made more power, but the Riley was very reliable and less costly than its competitors such as HAL and Frontenac.  Riley also produced a 4-port head, but it wasn't as common as the 2-port.


Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 11, 2012, 03:35:16 AM
Quote from: RayTheRat on November 10, 2012, 04:04:09 PM
The Riley 2-port head was an aftermarket conversion to an F-head setup for Ford Model A and B 4-banger motors.  They had 2 overhead intake valves and 1 exhaust valve (in the block) per cylinder.  They were arguably the most cost-effective head conversions for Model As.  Others made more power, but the Riley was very reliable and less costly than its competitors such as HAL and Frontenac.  Riley also produced a 4-port head, but it wasn't as common as the 2-port.

The Riley 2-Port was one of our very first puzzles  :)

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=300.0
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #400 - The Libby streamliner
Post by: RayTheRat on November 11, 2012, 10:13:06 AM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on November 11, 2012, 03:35:16 AM
Quote from: RayTheRat on November 10, 2012, 04:04:09 PM
The Riley 2-port head was an aftermarket conversion to an F-head setup for Ford Model A and B 4-banger motors.  They had 2 overhead intake valves and 1 exhaust valve (in the block) per cylinder.  They were arguably the most cost-effective head conversions for Model As.  Others made more power, but the Riley was very reliable and less costly than its competitors such as HAL and Frontenac.  Riley also produced a 4-port head, but it wasn't as common as the 2-port.

The Riley 2-Port was one of our very first puzzles  :)

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=300.0

Yep.  That's a 2-port.  For reference, it's most likely in a 30-31 Model A, going by the grill shell.

RtR