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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2011 => Topic started by: Otto Puzzell on August 23, 2010, 05:43:32 AM

Title: (New) Puzzle #1713 - Motorhome by Majestic with Dodge Engine
Post by: Otto Puzzell on August 23, 2010, 05:43:32 AM
Know what it is?

Please, respond below and share your knowledge of what this is called, and who built it.
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. :D


Thanks!
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on August 30, 2010, 06:11:04 AM
On to the experts
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 06, 2010, 06:12:00 AM
Still no attempts.

Pro's will know.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Quiller on September 08, 2010, 06:45:31 PM
That's the Sportswagon from 1973
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 09, 2010, 05:31:46 AM
That's what it's called. Who built it?

Locked for you for 48 hours.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Quiller on September 10, 2010, 10:44:40 AM
Frankly I don't know who it was built by.
The fuzzy literature I have seems to suggest it has a 'Royale' body, possibly by Uniroyal (?)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 10, 2010, 12:09:40 PM
Between you and I, I don't know, either.  ;D

The first point is yours. OK to let the rest of the crew chime in with what they know about the builder?
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 01, 2010, 05:41:51 AM
1st to Quiller. Let's move this one to the 'hole
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Paul Jaray on October 02, 2010, 08:20:52 AM
I've got a 2-page ad where it is simply called "The Sportswagon"
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Allemano on October 28, 2010, 03:56:29 AM
Found it as 1973 Chrysler Sportswagon Mini-Van 
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 28, 2010, 04:41:33 AM
I'm sure it's built on a Chrysler chassis. I don't think the body was Chrysler designed or built. It could have been, but I doubt it.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Allemano on October 28, 2010, 04:45:24 AM
So, it's not what you're looking for?!
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 28, 2010, 05:04:00 AM
As I stated above, I don't know for sure who built it. I'll give you a point if you can convince me this van was built by Chrysler
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Allemano on October 28, 2010, 06:07:30 AM
The only thing I can do is this:
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 28, 2010, 06:16:56 AM
Looks like somebody selling a brochure that doesn't indicate it is a Chrysler.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Allemano on October 28, 2010, 06:19:15 AM
Distrust everywhere! ;D

Maybe somebody can tell on which fair it was shown.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 28, 2010, 06:27:34 AM
Dodge chassis were used by many RV manufacturers in the '70's and '80's, so I wouldn't be surprised by a connection. This one looks to me like an attempt to react to GM's advanced RV's of the 1970's.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: streamliner on October 29, 2010, 11:57:45 PM
I'm fairly certain it's not Chrysler.  Majestic?  I think I can confirm this when I find the Majestic logo...

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/MotorHome.jpg)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 30, 2010, 03:45:45 AM
Interesting! Let's hope this one can be put to bed.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: streamliner on November 23, 2010, 03:00:39 PM
Well, I thought I was on to something, but maybe not.  Here's the interior of the Sportswagon.  As I look closer, the logo on the steering wheel looks to be the "S" in Sportswagon.  It does have a "Torque-Command" (Chrysler) automatic...

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/SportswagonInterior.jpg)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: barrett on November 23, 2010, 03:07:42 PM
Oh no, I actually found the answer to this online somewhere but I thought it had already been solved.... ::)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: streamliner on November 23, 2010, 03:43:19 PM
...So...  You're saying there's hope?
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Ultra on December 03, 2010, 03:42:20 PM
The door handles are just like the ones on my 74 Dodge Challenger.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 03, 2010, 03:48:24 PM
Quote from: Ultra on December 03, 2010, 03:42:20 PM
The door handles are just like the ones on my 74 Dodge Challenger.

Were you able to find replacements?
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Ultra on December 03, 2010, 04:02:02 PM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on December 03, 2010, 03:48:24 PM
Quote from: Ultra on December 03, 2010, 03:42:20 PM
The door handles are just like the ones on my 74 Dodge Challenger.

Were you able to find replacements?

???
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 03, 2010, 05:06:40 PM
Silly joke. As in "my car had (past tense) handles just like that".

No, I won't Be quitting my day job.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: streamliner on January 19, 2011, 07:13:36 PM
I found it!!!  VERY interesting:  It seems both Alex Tremulis AND Peter Bryant (of UOP Shadow Can-Am car fame) both had their hands in this project from Majestic.  Peter Bryant started it, and Alex Tremulis took it from Bryant's concept to almost completion.  Peter Bryant's motorhome called Revcon looks like it was a later version of the Sportswagon.

Here's the letter from Alex Tremulis describing his work on the project:

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/Sportswagon1.jpg)

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/Sportswagon2.jpg)

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/Sportswagon3.jpg)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: Otto Puzzell on January 20, 2011, 04:02:49 AM
Interesting - so, was he working on what became the puzzle vehicle, or was he retained to work on a revision of what was already done? FWIW, the letter seems faked to me.

Since you've gone the extra mile on this one, I'm calling it closed and giving you the point.
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713 - Motorhome by Majestic with Dodge Engine
Post by: streamliner on January 20, 2011, 12:10:10 PM
I'm thinking the vehicle you see is the end result of Tremulis working with Peter Bryant and others on the design.  The prototype Tremulis refers to, I think, is the 3/8th scale model.  But, now that I know who to look for, I know there are other letters and correspondence describing this project.  I'll post as I find them.

I've seen these names on other letters (original documents obtained from the author, many, many years ago), but attributed them to the Travoy that Tremulis drove to the land speed record in 1970 (same players, minus Bryant):

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/TravoyatSpeed.jpg)

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/TravoyPress-MotorHome.jpg)

It's a small world:  In 1973, Tremulis and Bryant both displayed their cars side-by-side at the LA Auto Show.  Tremulis with Bill Hamlin's Tucker #1002 and Bryant with his Shadow.  Tremulis wrote an entertaining story to go along with that encounter, posted on the Tucker Club's website...
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713 - Motorhome by Majestic with Dodge Engine
Post by: streamliner on January 26, 2011, 08:04:18 PM
Not that motorhomes are really all that exciting to me, but this one seems to have more drama than many sports cars around.  Here's a couple more tidbits from the archives.  There's more to this story that I'm tracking down, but it seems even some of the most trivial projects have great stories behind them.  I think Tremulis may have designed both the Sportswagon and the eventual SL18 for Travoy.  If so, I'm sure I can find the sketches that went into both designs, if anyone's interested...

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/8-28-1974MajesticDesign.jpg)

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/8-28-1974MajesticSL18Logo.jpg)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713 - Motorhome by Majestic with Dodge Engine
Post by: streamliner on January 26, 2011, 09:45:39 PM
Slowly the pieces are falling into place.  Here's the description of Majestic's SL18.  I'm thinking there was an internal rift, Sportswagon was spun off, and Majestic built this one instead.  Then the Sportswagon may have evolved into the Revcon.  Still searching...

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/sl18.jpg)
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713
Post by: sporty on January 19, 2014, 03:44:49 PM
Quote from: streamliner on October 29, 2010, 11:57:45 PM
I'm fairly certain it's not Chrysler.  Majestic?  I think I can confirm this when I find the Majestic logo...

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu248/gyronaut/MotorHome.jpg)

I have a lot of info on the Sportwagon.  I have names....the Company.....CEO, President etc.....
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713 - Motorhome by Majestic with Dodge Engine
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 19, 2014, 05:20:36 PM
cool!
Welcome to Autopuzzles, sporty, the place where all you can share is highly appreciated!
Title: Re: (New) Puzzle #1713 - Motorhome by Majestic with Dodge Engine
Post by: grobmotorix on January 20, 2014, 12:13:16 PM
Dito!