Solved - NEH 908: Dawn Impala - 1936

Carnut · January 04, 2011, 12:20:32 PM

Identify this car for 1 point:

Paul Jaray · January 04, 2011, 01:30:32 PM

Cooooool!

navara · January 08, 2011, 09:29:32 PM

This is the 1936 Dawn Impala, created by Claude May.
This is believed to be the only surviving picture of the car.
The same picture appears in this months Classic and Sportscar. P33. Feb 2011.
With the full story of the car. Written by Simon Taylor.

Carnut · January 09, 2011, 08:16:26 AM

That's what it is, yes. The picture was taken during testing at Brooklands in 1936.
It had a Meadows 1500cc 4-cylinder engine positioned just in front of the rear wheels, giving very stable handling. It also had an elementary continuous belt-drive transmission, something which its designer Claude May also apparently worked on for DAF.
The car was in a lock-up in London during WW2 along with all parts and papers when it was destroyed during a bombing raid, leaving nothing whatsoever behind.

Simon Taylor · January 12, 2011, 11:28:16 AM

I'm impressed and flattered that the car I wrote about in this month's Classic & Sports Car got onto Autopuzzles.com within hours of the magazine hitting the bookstands!

Seriously, I'd be delighted if anybody can tell me anything else about Claude May and his futuristic design. Mr May wrote a letter to me about it in around 1990 and, if he hadn't enclosed that one photo, I probably wouldn't have believed his story. He was clearly a very clever young designer when he built the car - it was amazingly ahead of its time in 1936 - and it's a tragedy that it was destroyed without trace in World War II.

Since the magazine came out I have discovered that he died in 1996. But if Autopuzzles.com happens to reach anyone who knows any more, I'd really like to hear from them.

Carnut · January 12, 2011, 12:13:28 PM

Welcome to AutoPuzzles Simon.. I think I know which of your colleagues told you about the Impala being featured!

Always on the lookout for real rareties and this one was a natural, especially as the streamliners are always very popular puzzles and I thought even PJ wouldn't know this one!

However, to use a puzzle from a current magazine was perhaps a bit of a mistake: maybe I should have left it a few months until it faded from people's memories a bit, as it should have lasted a bit longer being quite so rare and almost completely unknown.

Never mind, sure the story will be of interest to AutoPuzzlers.

Wendax · January 20, 2021, 01:52:49 AM

Framework drop.

For one point, please respond and identify this car.

Wendax · January 27, 2021, 01:58:35 AM

up

Skut · January 28, 2021, 03:49:42 AM

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Wendax · January 28, 2021, 04:00:22 AM

No

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Stout Scarab?

Wendax · January 28, 2021, 12:10:36 PM

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FrontMan · February 01, 2021, 07:48:57 AM

Adler ?

Wendax · February 01, 2021, 08:24:58 AM

No

fromwien · February 01, 2021, 08:30:43 AM

American?

Wendax · February 01, 2021, 10:36:20 AM

No

SACO · February 03, 2021, 06:41:15 AM

Italian car ?

Wendax · February 03, 2021, 08:21:18 AM

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Wendax · February 06, 2021, 12:19:46 PM

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Wendax · February 20, 2021, 04:42:39 AM

up again

Julien1A · February 20, 2021, 07:43:39 AM

Dymaxion?

Wendax · February 20, 2021, 07:53:47 AM

No

kwgibbs · February 20, 2021, 10:25:31 AM

Bech 1937 three-seater?

Wendax · February 20, 2021, 02:44:24 PM

No

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Solved - NEH 908: Dawn Impala - 1936