Garage Thunder - Inspired by the jet-age spirit of the 1950s, when bold design and wild imagination ruled the road, the postwar automotive world saw an explosion of experimental dream machines. World War II had pressed pause on civilian car production, forcing engineers to channel their ingenuity into war efforts. But when peace returned, so did the passion for pushing boundaries. The hot rod culture flourished, manufacturers dreamed up dramatic prototypes, and individuals with a flair for mechanical magic began building the cars they had only seen in their imaginations. This era wasn’t just about cars—it was about vision, risk, and the pursuit of something truly extraordinary.
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| The Cramer Comet, created by Tom Cramer and inspired by the dazzling GM Le Sabre, captured mid-century futurism with sweeping lines, gleaming metal, and a bold 1950s American presence. (Picture from: Cars.Bonham) |
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| The Cramer Comet stayed true to its aircraft theme and made its first big splash in 1954, appearing in Hot Rod Magazine and later in Popular Science. (Picture from: Cars.Bonham) |
At the heart of the Comet was something almost unbelievable: a 12-cylinder Allison aircraft engine. Originally designed to power warplanes, this beast churned out a staggering 1,350 horsepower and a thunderous 1,500 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm. Fitting that kind of power into a ground-bound vehicle was no easy feat. Every bit of the chassis had to be reinforced or redesigned just to survive the force it was being asked to handle.
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| The Cramer Comet was built piece by piece from a mix of truck and car components rather than a single donor, with a chassis that not only provided structure but also functioned as a cooling system by channeling coolant through its tubular frame to a rear-mounted radiator. (Picture from: Cars.Bonham) |
Cramer didn't stick to a single donor car or part bin. Instead, he built his dream car piece by piece, blending parts from trucks and cars to form the foundation. The chassis itself wasn’t just for structure—it doubled as a cooling system, channeling coolant through its tubular frame to the rear-mounted radiator. Under the rear deck, twin cooling blowers helped keep the temperature manageable in traffic. The engine cranked to life with a 24-volt start system powered by two 12-volt batteries in series, while a two-tone GMC truck clutch and four-speed manual transmission helped tame the engine’s immense power.
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| The Cramer Comet stayed true to its aircraft-inspired theme with a cockpit-like dashboard featuring center-mounted gauges and dials for everything from manifold pressure to hydraulic performance, making it feel more like a command center than a car. (Picture from: Cars.Bonham) |
Visually, the Cramer Comet was inspired by the dazzling GM Le Sabre—a prototype that defined mid-century futurism on wheels. The Comet carried that same spirit, with sweeping lines, gleaming metal, and an unmistakable 1950s American aura. Inside, Cramer stayed true to the aircraft theme. The dashboard looked more like a cockpit, featuring center-mounted gauges and dials for everything from manifold pressure to hydraulic performance. It wasn’t just a car; it was a command center.
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| The Cramer Comet was powered by a 12-cylinder Allison aircraft engine, originally built for warplanes, delivering 1,350 horsepower and 1,500 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm. (Picture from: ConceptCarz) |
The car made its first big splash in 1954, gracing the pages of Hot Rod Magazine, followed by a feature in Popular Science the next year. But all that power and ambition came with a price—by the late 1950s, much of the car’s mechanical system was in need of a full rebuild. Cramer didn’t shy away from the challenge. In 1958, he began reworking the car, and by 1960, a refreshed and reimagined Comet made its public debut at the Nebraska Motor Sports Auto Show, as announced in the Omaha Sunday World-Herald.
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| The Cramer Comet still remarkably wears its original 1954 paint job, reflecting the enduring care and pride that have surrounded its existence. (Picture from: Cars.Bonham) |
Though it remained a passion project for years, it wasn’t until 1980 that the Comet was officially registered for the road, complete with a Nebraska state chassis ID. By then, it had become more than just a machine—it was a relic of American innovation and ambition. In 1991, the Comet found a new home in the hands of a collector who specialized in rare, historically significant vehicles, especially those from the pre-war era. Yet, even among such elite company, the Comet stood out—not just because of its power, but because of its soul.
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| The Cramer Comet used twin cooling blowers mounted under the rear deck to keep temperatures manageable during traffic conditions. (Picture from: Cars.Bonham) |
Remarkably, the car still wears its original 1954 paint job, a testament to the care and pride that surrounded its existence. The interior, trimmed in red and white vinyl, is as bold as the machine itself. In 2008, the Cramer Comet was offered at RM Auctions’ Sports & Classics of Monterey, with an estimated value of up to $350,000. Although the top bid of $150,000 didn’t meet the reserve, it served as a reminder that true one-of-a-kind creations often transcend traditional market value. | 0Koo-K62cd4 |
The Cramer Comet is more than a custom build—it’s the product of one man’s vision, built with heart and horsepower. In a world where cars often look the same and serve the same purpose, the Comet stands as a symbol of what’s possible when you throw out the rulebook and build not just a car, but a legacy. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CONCEPTCARZ | KUSTOMRAMA | CARS.BONHAM ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
