1948 Norman Timbs Buick Streamliner Special.
1948 Norman Timbs Buick Streamliner Special
In the 1940s, mechanical engineer Norman E. Timbs crafted an exceptional American hot rod, the result of over two years of designing and fabricating much of the project himself, including a custom aluminum body and steel chassis.
The chic roadster, which graced the cover of Motor Trend and was featured in Mechanix Illustrated, Popular Mechanics, and Motor Life, was a nod to the German GP cars that mimicked aeronautical practice, with a smooth shape free of the overindulgences that eventually dominated American design.
Based on a 1947 Buick “Super 8” engine, the car weighed 2200 lbs and could reach speeds of up to 120 mph. The main chassis was built up from five-inch steel tubes and utilized a modified 1947 Ford suspension for a smooth ride. The cockpit, pushed forward much like the Auto Union Typ D, lacked doors, with a large one-piece rear panel that opened hydraulically to reveal the entire rear end of the chassis.
Mr. Timbs had previously worked as an Indy 500 designer, and his design was influenced by the 1937 Auto Union Typ C Stromlinie and 1937 Mercedes-Benz W25 Avus Stromlinie, which ran the 1937 Avus GP, the fastest GP race of all time with speeds nearing 248.40 mph (400 kph). The Streamliner was outdated by post-war standards but still retains its pleasing shape, with a long and low body and a complete underbelly panel.
According to Road & Track, the car cost $10,000 USD to create and took Mr. Timbs 2 1/2 years, with the body alone costing $8,000, created entirely in aluminum by Emil Diedt, formed by hand over a traditional wooden buck. Initially only used on the show circuit, the Streamliner was purchased by Jim Davis of California in 1952, who allowed Motor Life to photograph it for a feature article.
The Streamliner was discovered almost fully intact in the desert in 2002, purchased at auction, and restored by Dave Crouse at Custom Auto, Inc. in Loveland, Colorado, for owners Gary & Diane Cerveny of Malibu, California. After a “complete and exacting” restoration, the car debuted at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in a class reserved for Motor Trend Cover Cars.
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