What's the Story? #455 - Revere Copper & Brass Ad / Life Magazine, May 21 1945

[Otto Puzzell]

For one point: Identify the idea this picture was meant to communicate, and the company behind it.

Only a correct, complete and specific answer will earn a point; tag-on's to other guesses will not. So, be specific and complete!
 

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[Otto Puzzell]

Up

[richard cuyler]

It's so light and streamlined that even a wee dog can pull it along?

[fyreline]

Looks like yet another Bruce McCall creation? (Well, even if it isn't, it looks like one)

[Otto Puzzell]

It's so light and streamlined that even a wee dog can pull it along?

You are on the right path.

[Otto Puzzell]

Looks like yet another Bruce McCall creation? (Well, even if it isn't, it looks like one)

Not a McCall job

[Otto Puzzell]

Up again

[Wendax]

It reminds me of this one: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=4771.0 

[pguillem]

Any relation with Coppertone ?

[Otto Puzzell]

Any relation with Coppertone ?

Ha! That hadn't occurred to me. 

Not connected to Coppertone - but there is a sort-of Kevin Bacon-y connection.

I'll give you a 24 hour lock to explore that angle.

[pguillem]

That cocker is driving me crazy.  Please unlock.

[Otto Puzzell]

As you wish 

[Djetset]

Surely if it's dog-powered, it must be a Rover 

[Otto Puzzell]

 

[Otto Puzzell]

Any relation with Coppertone ?

Ha! That hadn't occurred to me. 

Not connected to Coppertone - but there is a sort-of Kevin Bacon-y connection.

I'll give you a 24 hour lock to explore that angle.

There's a clue in their somewhere...

[fyreline]

Hmmm. Wild guess, but how about the connection being copper the metal instead of coppertone the suntan lotion? Not that knowing this will help much, I can't imagine how it would be related . . . yet.

[Otto Puzzell]

Follow that hunch

[fyreline]

Really? You're kidding.

OK then, lets see what can be found . . . .

[Otto Puzzell]

Really? You're kidding.

OK then, lets see what can be found . . . .

I never kid - AutoPuzzles is serious business. 

[Otto Puzzell]

Please proceed...

[fyreline]

Tough to track down . . . I'm going on the premise that this is somehow related to lightweight materials, and while I've found quite a few references to "cars of the future" featuring lighter-weight construction there are simply too many threads going in too many different directions, and no pictures or drawings that look anything like the puzzle car so far. I tried following the "copper" clue but haven't found much there.

Still looking.

[Otto Puzzell]

This may help:

This was not a serious proposal for a car that was to be built. It was meant to promote the possible use of certain materials by the automobile industry in a humorous yet gee-whiz way.

[fyreline]

It actually helped a LOT. I had been (unsuccessfully) searching combinations of "copper", "car", "lightweight"', "postwar" (judging from the general look of the illustration) and not finding too much. Your latest comments got me adding in "aluminum" and then "magnesium" and certain combinations started showing a few cars, but none of them remotely like the puzzle car. I noticed a few magazine illustrations from the Revere Copper & Brass Company so I threw that into the mix as well . . . And the combination of "Revere", "magnesium", and "car" finally led me to it.

It's an illustration of a lightweight car that appeared in the May 21, 1945 issue of Life magazine. Sponsored by the aforementioned Revere Copper & Brass Company, it was not actually a proposal from the sound of it, just an illustration of what a car made with high magnesium content might be like. This was a fun one, and I uncovered a lot of wacky "future lightweight car" proposals along the way. Hope I can remember them all!

[Otto Puzzell]

Nicely done!