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AutoPuzzles Today => Features, Stories and Photos => Rare Car of the Week => Topic started by: Ray B. on April 09, 2008, 11:34:02 AM

Title: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on April 09, 2008, 11:34:02 AM
Ever seen this ?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.
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Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 12, 2008, 03:52:02 AM
Is this car from the dark side of the Iron Curtain?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Ray B. on April 12, 2008, 09:03:54 AM
Not in the least.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 13, 2008, 02:36:29 AM
From Spain?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Ray B. on April 13, 2008, 04:05:27 AM
Neither.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 13, 2008, 05:26:34 AM
Does this manufacturer still build cars?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Ray B. on April 13, 2008, 05:33:12 AM
Good question: nope. He only built this one. I mean THIS one. It never went past that prototype.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 13, 2008, 06:14:41 AM
Was the builder more well-known for other endeavors?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Ray B. on April 13, 2008, 07:33:30 AM
A perfect unknown from what I read.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 13, 2008, 07:47:02 AM
European?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Ray B. on April 13, 2008, 09:01:42 AM
U.S. of A.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: jotage21 on June 22, 2008, 11:21:36 PM
Coleman 1934
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77
Post by: Ray B. on June 23, 2008, 04:03:57 AM
WELL DONE!
You found out one who seemed to leave all the pros speechless. It deserves two points.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Arunas on October 02, 2008, 04:23:49 PM
Please tell me where did You find all that stuff?

I have searched for information about this car very hard and this is the best I could found:

COLEMAN — Littleton, Colorado — (1930-1935)

The cars were designed by Harleigh Holmes; they were paid for by George L. Coleman. Having patented a steerable driving axle in 1919, Holmes had established the Four Wheel Drive Company in Carbondale, Colorado, in 1921 , a firm he sold a firm he sold out the year following to lead and zinc mining magnate Coleman. Coleman Motors Corporation began producing four-wheel-drive trucks in Littleton about 1925. Holmes seems to have been kept on in the Coleman organization in an ex officio capacity, being given such assignments as the design of race cars, assignments as the design of race cars, first for first for Coleman's son to take to Pikes Peak, then for the famous Unser family, Pikes Peak, then for the famous Unser family, even for the Indy 500 in 1930 - 1931 Indy 500. The idea behind the Coleman passenger car was probably Holmes', though Coleman was congenially willing to fund the project because some patentable because some patentable engineering features might result that would provide tidy royalties, Although in 1933 the company announced plans for marketing of the Coleman, for marketing of the Coleman, with a $995 price tag, this never in fact happened — and probably was only  briefly considered. Total Coleman production was five cars; all of them utilizing Ford components but offering a good many interesting, if sometimes bizarre, Holmes' ideas. The first two vehicles were front-wheel-drive, the last three rear-drive but with a front axle that arched formidably into a huge U over the engine this to effect a low center of gravity, though some problems in road-going must have been effected as well. Overall height and width were the same 58 inches, ground clearance was a mere eight. Front and rear fenders formed a continuous line with the deeply flanged runningboards to allow sufficient reinforcement for the perimeter-type frame, which presaged somewhat the "stepdown" idea of the postwar Hudson. Unconventional, too, was the Coleman's body styling. Although perhaps it could not be called unrelievedly ugly, neither could it be called handsome.

source: Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805-1942 By Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark (Google books)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: jotage21 on October 04, 2008, 10:06:14 AM
Beside the mentioned book I think that I saw something at Modern Mechanix
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on October 25, 2008, 04:42:40 PM
Quote from: jotage21 on October 04, 2008, 10:06:14 AM
Beside the mentioned book I think that I saw something at Modern Mechanix
Is it this?
I stumbled upon tonight and didn't realized at first it was indeed the Coleman, even if no name was mentioned! It's the first good picture I see of that car.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 31, 2010, 04:52:17 PM
Coleman built 5 cars, Autopuzzles is the only place where you can find pictures of 3 of them!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on February 05, 2010, 11:09:43 AM
Well said, Paul.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on February 06, 2010, 07:09:55 AM
... and I think, on second thought, that this additional bit of valuable info is worth another point.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 06, 2010, 08:24:27 AM
Wow, thanks!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on November 08, 2010, 09:25:30 AM
Found interesting stuff about these cars...I'll post them soon!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: DeAutogids on November 08, 2010, 09:44:55 AM
Coleman is better known for it's trucks.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 01:14:23 PM
In an old issue of Special Interest Autos, there is an interesting 3-page article about Mr. Harleigh Holmes Sr and his 5 cars.
I can't write it down the whole story and I'm unable to summarize it within resonable time.
So I decided to give you what we all like the most: just pictures!
In 1922 Harleigh had sold his company (the Four Wheel Drive Company of Carbondale, Colorado, estabilished in 1919 to produce 4wd trucks and snowplows) to George L. Coleman, a wealthy Oklahoma lead-and-zinc-mine baron.
Here you are the 5 cars made by Holmes at the Coleman Motors Corporation of Littleton, Colorado, later known as the American-Coleman Company, subsidiary of Kansas City Southern Industries Inc.

#1- 1930 - Blue Goose: Front Drive with a Ford Model A engine and transmission set ahead of the axle and set longitudinally.
Boxy body made of sheet aluminum screwed onto a wooden framework.
#2- 1932 - Maroon Car: Front Drive with a Oakland\Pontiac V8 engine in the rear.
#3- 1932 - White Car: Front-mounted Ford V8 (65bhp) engine and conventional rear drive. With this car Coleman patented his special front axle, a sort of huge inverted U arched over the engine and his design for the frame.
#4 - 1934 - Brown Car: this car was the redesigned White car, covered in brown leatherette.
#5 - 1935 - Custom:  Front-mounted Ford V8 (85bhp) engine and conventional rear drive. Grille came from a 1933 Ford.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Amsterdam on December 14, 2010, 01:32:06 PM
 :o Very nice pics PJ!!! :applause:
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: woodinsight on December 14, 2010, 02:26:40 PM
Unbelievable! - How do you do it?
 :applause:
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 02:32:31 PM
I bought the whole collection of SIA magazine...more will follow!
(BTW: The title should be changed, the puzzle car was called simpy 'Custom' and was made in 1935)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 14, 2010, 04:11:26 PM
 ;)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on December 14, 2010, 04:22:27 PM
Paul, I am just short of words!
What you do here again gives all its meaning to the concept of "rare car of the week"
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 04:27:49 PM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on December 14, 2010, 04:11:26 PM
;)

Well, it's more like this, these days:
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Amsterdam on December 14, 2010, 04:29:20 PM
Quote from: Ray B. on December 14, 2010, 04:22:27 PM
Paul, I am just short of words!
What you dod here again gives all its meaning to the concept of "rare car of the week"

I think you should give him another point  ;D
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 04:31:41 PM
Quote from: Ray B. on December 14, 2010, 04:22:27 PM
Paul, I am just short of words!
What you dod here again gives all its meaning to the concept of "rare car of the week"
I'm happy to give you more reasons for sticking around!
I found a lot of juicy cars and once I'm settled (3\4 months) I'll have more time to share my sources.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Allemano on December 15, 2010, 02:03:59 AM
Quote from: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 02:32:31 PM
I bought the whole collection of SIA magazine...more will follow!
(BTW: The title should be changed, the puzzle car was called simpy 'Custom' and was made in 1935)
 :o
How many issues? I'm not envious! No, I'm not envious... I'm not envious at all... No, I'm not!... I never will... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 15, 2010, 06:11:19 AM
Quote from: Allemano on December 15, 2010, 02:03:59 AM
Quote from: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 02:32:31 PM
I bought the whole collection of SIA magazine...more will follow!
(BTW: The title should be changed, the puzzle car was called simpy 'Custom' and was made in 1935)
  :o
How many issues? I'm not envious! No, I'm not envious... I'm not envious at all... No, I'm not!... I never will... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious... No, I'm not envious...
:lmao:
So far from #1 till #156 plus other 16 numbers from #157 to #201.
I'm planning to buy the remaining issues when I'll have time and when I'll find them at a convenient price.
They are incredible, I'll post more pics and scans of many cars already featured here and new puzzles.
I'm moving into a new home where I'll keep a scanner beside my books always ready (now it's in another room and not connected) and I'll start to scan pages instead of taking pictures (if I do not risk to damage the books).
More to follow!
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 15, 2010, 07:44:50 AM
From a different issue:
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Allemano on December 15, 2010, 07:50:43 AM
I've seen issue #01 for ~ $100 today...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 15, 2010, 08:03:27 AM
I've benn lucky and patient.
I'm still looking for some issues of the 90s, but there are plenty out there...I'll wait for the right occasion (there are some good lots at 20$ but I'm waiting for a reply from the seller).
I found the early numbers from some reliable sellers from ebay and paid between 0,99 and 6$ each.
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on December 15, 2010, 09:56:47 AM
Quote from: Paul Jaray on December 14, 2010, 04:31:41 PM

I'm happy to give you more reasons for sticking around!
I found a lot of juicy cars and once I'm settled (3\4 months) I'll have more time to share my sources.

Careful! Some easy points for me, maybe (I kept about 40 issues from the time I was a suscriber).
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 15, 2010, 09:59:04 AM
I can almost name them...I recognize your great previous puzzles from there...(and avoid those issues for further ones)..and there is always that blog...
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: sixtee5cuda on March 16, 2015, 11:20:17 PM
Here is an image of the 1934 Brown Car.

This is an interesting group of cars.  Is it possible to get the images restored, with the correct names applied?
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Ray B. on February 06, 2016, 04:42:37 AM
Here is something about them I've just seen. The Colerman cars were named from the color they were painted: Maroon, White, Brown. See Paul Jaray reply #22

http://theoldmotor.com/?p=154453
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 07, 2016, 08:00:21 AM
That nice article appeared 3 days after I posted this picture in my facebook page  :)
Title: Re: Whaddyacallit #77-SOLVED! 1933 Coleman
Post by: sixtee5cuda on February 07, 2016, 10:24:42 AM
I guess I didn't read the Old Motor article close enough last year.  The car I posted is of course, the 1935 Custom.  And the puzzle car is probably the Brown Car