Fageol Supersonic: The Forgotten Art-Deco Dream Car of the 1940s

Streamlined Vision - It’s not only in today’s era that people have been fascinated by what the future of transportation might look like. This kind of imagination has been alive for decades—stretching far beyond the 1950s Jet Age, even back into the late 1930s. At that time, one powerful influence shaped many visions of the future: art-deco design. Born in the years after World War I and fading just before World War II, art-deco wasn’t just a style—it was a movement that left its mark on everything from architecture to fashion, from furniture to automobiles. It was sleek, symmetrical, luxurious, and forward-looking. So, it’s no surprise that when engineers and designers of the 1930s and 1940s tried to imagine tomorrow’s vehicles, they did it through the lens of art-deco elegance.

This is how the Supersonic appeared after Louis Fageol acquired it from Joel Thorne and transformed it into his own vision in 1948. (Picture from: JustACarGuy)

Among the cars that truly embodied this vision, the Fageol Supersonic stands out—not just for its sculpted body or futuristic form, but for the fascinating journey behind its creation. It began with high-speed ambitions, stumbled due to financial setbacks, and was later revived into something extraordinary. Unlike many concept vehicles of the era that remained only as sketches or clay models, the Supersonic made it to the road—originally built for record-breaking speed, then reimagined as a bold personal project, and ultimately admired for its daring design and innovative engineering. While many may recall  the 1938 Phantom Corsair as a symbol of futuristic design from that period, the Supersonic takes the idea even further—with a unique story and vision that truly set it apart. 

The 1948 Fageol Supersonic featured a dramatically low-slanting hood and an innovative slide-away sunroof positioned above the front seat, emphasizing both style and forward-thinking design. (Picture from: Hemmings)

Originally conceived in 1938 by Thorne Engineering of Burbank, California, the Supersonic was never meant to be a road car. It was built to compete at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats, where land-speed records were being shattered by engineering powerhouses like Mercedes-Benz and Auto-Union. The car was supposed to be America’s answer to Europe’s dominance in the high-speed arena, fitted with a twin-engine system developed by the renowned Miller. But the dream didn’t quite take off. Financial troubles brought the project to a halt, leaving the Supersonic incomplete and stored away—until Louis Fageol entered the picture.

This was the original form of the Fageol Supersonic, first constructed in 1938 by Thorne Engineering of Burbank, California, as a purpose-built racing car intended for land-speed records. (Picture from: Kustorama)

In 1948, Fageol—a visionary in his own right and co-owner of the Twin Coach Company—acquired the unfinished vehicle and decided to take it in a bold new direction. The car was given an entirely reimagined body, a sleek aluminum shell that captured the spirit of motion even at rest. Gone was the original twin-engine setup, replaced with a more practical, yet powerful six-cylinder engine sourced from a Fageol bus. The front hood sloped dramatically, giving the car a bullet-like silhouette, and a slide-away sunroof added a touch of luxury. By 1949, the Supersonic was no longer just a race car—it had transformed into a rolling piece of future-inspired art, proudly displayed at Indy.

The Fageol Supersonic, originally built as a streamlined race car, was designed to challenge the land speed record and compete directly against the legendary Mercedes Silver Arrow and Auto Union speed machines. (Picture from: Kustorama)

But Fageol wasn’t finished yet. He kept developing the Supersonic, pushing its potential further. By 1953, the car had undergone a significant evolution. Its wheelbase stretched to 124 inches, and it measured an impressive 210 inches in overall length. More importantly, the engine was replaced once more—but this time, with something truly groundbreaking. Fageol installed a specially built aluminum engine powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), delivering up to 275 horsepower. This 404-cubic-inch single-overhead-cam engine wasn’t just about performance—it was a statement. With its low weight, aerodynamic body, and high output, Fageol claimed the Supersonic could reach speeds of up to 150 mph. And it wasn’t just a garage queen—he reportedly drove it across the country from California to New York. 😑

The Fageol Supersonic made its debut at Indy in 1949, where racing legend Wilbur Shaw took it for a few exhibition laps, reaching an impressive 125 mph on the straightaways, showcasing both its performance and futuristic design. (Picture from: Hemmings)

Eventually, the innovative LPG engine was swapped out for a Twin Coach six-cylinder unit, marking another shift in the Supersonic’s journey. But even with this change, the car’s allure didn’t fade. In fact, its reputation continued to grow, especially after being featured in Trend Book 107 Dream Cars in 1953. It became a symbol of what could happen when art and engineering collided during one of the most stylish design eras in history.

The final form of the Fageol Supersonic, as it appeared in 2009, was proudly displayed at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, California, highlighting its unique place in automotive history. (Picture from: Kustorama)

Today, the Fageol Supersonic still exists—a rare surviving vision of the future as imagined in the past. Since 2009, it has been under the care of Robert DeMars and was displayed at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, California. Though the original LPG engine no longer powers it, the Supersonic still turns heads, not just because of how it looks, but because of what it represents: a fearless pursuit of innovation, shaped by dreams of speed, style, and a better tomorrow.

In the end, the Supersonic isn't just another car from the 1940s. It's a rolling testament to the bold creativity of its time, built by a man who refused to let a good idea fade into history. For those who appreciate when design and ambition meet in the most elegant of ways, this art-deco rocket on wheels remains one of the most fascinating vehicles ever imagined—and actually built. *** [EKA [05102020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FAGEOL | KUSTOMRAMA | HEMMINGS | JALOPNIK | JUSTACARGUY | FACEBOOK]

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