Solved - NEH 3285: Western Flyer said to be by Brooks Stevens - 1941

[Carnut]

What's this and from when does it date, for 1 point?:

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS OBTAINED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE MAY BE BANNED FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[Majeko]

1941 Western Flyer designed by Brooks Stevens. A thing of beauty!

[Carnut]

1941 Western Flyer designed by Brooks Stevens. A thing of beauty!

Indeed!

[Otto Puzzell]

Regardless of what this may be called around the internet, I expect this either a re-work of a Stevens design (given the low-rider stance and the silly tail-fin), or an "inspired by" creation. His 1940's designs were taller, and sans cowcatchers.   

[Carnut]

Regardless of what this may be called around the internet, I expect this either a re-work of a Stevens design (given the low-rider stance and the silly tail-fin), or an "inspired by" creation. His 1940's designs were taller, and sans cowcatchers.

Interesting.  I tried to find a period picture to post but couldn't; probably because it wasn't around then?!

[el_monty]

"Howdy Ledbetter, an upholsterer by trade, said he just had to have the remains of one of the Western Flyer vans that Brooks Stevens built for S.C. Johnson when he spotted them [in 2010][...]. "I had a good front half and a good back half," he said. "They were kinda all together, but all rotted out." Still, he took seven months piecing them together and adding his own interpretations – including a 1941 Ford COE grille and grille shell turned upside down to lengthen the nose and a 1941 Buick headlamp above the windshield – to create this Ford-powered 1941 Stevens/Ledbetter Western Flyer [...]"