Forgotten ONES - In the early days of automotive design and manufacturing, before the advanced technology we have today, car stylists and designers often relied on scale models to bring their visions to life. These models served as a tangible representation of their designs, allowing them to be examined, refined, and shared with other designers, consumers, and potential investors.
 |
| The 1951 final result of The Tucker-Tremulis-Neidlinger-Kaiser-Frazer sports car model with the newly built removeable hardtop and enclosed front fender, including a fresh new paint job. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
However, these models were typically just a preliminary step in the development process. As final designs evolved, the fate of these original models varied from becoming interesting paperweights to being dismantled for other projects. This pattern can be observed in numerous automotive projects, including the likes of the Ford Thunderbird Mexico, Ford Muroc, Ford Seattle-ite XXI, Pontiac Club de Mer, and many others.
 |
| The 1951 final result of The Tucker-Tremulis-Neidlinger-Kaiser-Frazer sports car model with the newly built removeable hardtop and enclosed front fender, including a fresh new paint job. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
One noteworthy automotive designer who embraced the use of scale models was Alex Tremulis. What sets his sports car models apart is that they served as a wellspring of design inspiration for several prominent car companies throughout the years. This journey began with the Tucker Corporation and culminated with Kaiser-Frazer, as these models took on a life of their own, transcending their original purpose.
 |
| Alex Tremulis, Chief Stylist for Tucker, examines wooden car miniatures used in developing styling for Tucker cars. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
As we delve into the story of Alex Tremulis' sports car models, we will uncover their role in pushing the boundaries of streamlining and aerodynamics. The genesis of this sports car concept can be traced back to Tucker. In a 1948 issue of Tucker Topics, a dealer magazine from the Tucker Corporation, there's a captivating photograph featuring Alex Tremulis alongside the Tucker 48 production model and a sports car model that appears to be in the early stages of development, prior to receiving its finishing touches.
 |
| Alex Tremulis posed with his model-making tools and the Tucker sports car in 1949, examines what looks to be the completed and finely detailed scale model. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
After successfully producing 51 units of the Tucker 48 in 1948, Tremulis continued to pursue his passion for automotive design. During his tenure at Ford Motor Company in the 1950s, he contributed to projects such as the Ford Thunderbird Mexico. However, there's a lesser-known chapter in Tremulis' career, involving an intriguing sports car design that was initially conceived for Tucker but later transitioned to Joseph Neidlinger and eventually found its way to Kaiser-Frazer.
 |
| The confident creator of the next American sports car looks ready for all takers in the project in 1949. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
While the exact timeline of this design's creation remains uncertain, several photos of the sports car model alongside a Tucker 48 scale model have surfaced. It's plausible that this unknown sports car design was conceptualized around the same time as the only car model ever produced by Preston Tucker's company.
This design exudes a menacing front end, featuring proportions that were undeniably ahead of its time. Notably, the exposed front wheel tops may have been influenced by Tremulis's friend, Ab Jenkins, who emphasized the importance of monitoring tire wear and suspension performance, especially in racing.
 |
| Initially the Tucker-Tremulis-Neidlinger-Kaiser-Frazer sports car model has menacing front view shows proportions that were still far ahead of its time. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
 |
| Sunday Times newspaper clipping published April 23, 1949 which reported that the proposed sports car was described as having a guaranteed top speed of 125 miles per hour. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
In an April 23, 1949 article in the Sunday Times, the proposed sports car was described as having a guaranteed top speed of 125 miles per hour. Reportedly, there were four orders for this sports car model, although it remains unclear if any of them were fulfilled. Despite the Tucker 48 facing production challenges at that point, Tremulis remained committed to the project.
 |
| The exposed front wheel tops may have been influenced by Tremulis's friend, Ab Jenkins, who emphasized the importance of monitoring tire wear and suspension performance, especially in racing. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
These are some early pictures of the Tucker-Tremulis-Neidlinger-Kaiser-Frazer during 1949. (Picture from: GyronautX1)
By this juncture, Alex Tremulis had joined Kaiser-Frazer, where he assumed a pivotal role in the advanced styling studio. In April 1951, exactly three years after its initial debut as a Tucker project, the revamped model made its first public appearance in the Kaiser-Frazer newsletter.
 |
| The freshened-up sports car model makes its first public debut in the Kaiser-Frazer newsletter by April 1951. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
Come October 1951, Science and Mechanics magazine caught wind of Kaiser-Frazer's future plans and featured photos and descriptions of the sports car model. By this time, its top speed had soared to over 135 miles per hour. The model showcased several distinctive features, including two air intake tubes on the hood, front intake of the rear-fenders to enhance brake cooling, a spare tire mounted atop the rear deck, and a row of exhaust outlets at the rear.
 |
| Come October 1951, Science and Mechanics magazine caught wind of Kaiser-Frazer's future plans and featured photos and descriptions of the sports car model. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
 |
| Alex Tremulis at work in his Kaiser-Frazer office in the Willow Run plant in 1951, while the Tucker-Tremulis-Neidlinger-Kaiser-Frazer sports car model sits proudly on his credenz.. (Picture from: GyronautX1) |
In retrospect, the journey of Alex Tremulis' sports car models is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation and design excellence within the automotive industry. These scale models not only served as creative outlets for their creator but also sparked inspiration across multiple generations of car enthusiasts and designers. While they may not have become full-fledged production vehicles, they remain cherished relics of a bygone era, capturing the spirit of a time when the automotive world was ripe with possibilities. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GYRONAUTX1 | ]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
