A remnant of the glory of the Gladiator GTS of the '50s

Unique ONES You might be remember to the Cadillac Die Valkyrie or the Studebaker Scepter Concept. All these 2 classic cars known to be the Brooks Stevens design results and have unique shapes in comparison to the existing cars of the era. And on this occasion, we will again present another unique car which is also the design work of those famous American industrial designer, namely the Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring.

The prototype of the Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring is designed by Brooks Stevens, bodied by Karosseriebau Hermann Spohn and debuted at the 42nd Paris Auto Salon in the 1955. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

As quoted from the sites of The Makes That Didn't Make It, the car was deliberately built as the grandest embodiment of James and Edward Gaylord's dream car or it could be said such the dream manifestation, if money is no longer a problem. As it is known, the Gaylord brothers are the heirs to a fortune built on their father’s hairpin invention. They are also known as true automotive enthusiasts who mourned over the collapsing of the great marques at the time, such as Bugatti and Delahaye, Duesenberg and Stutz.

The Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring ('production version') is also of historic significance in that it featured the very first automotive retractable hardtop model. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

And at the same time in the 1950s to 1960s era, it was the heyday of the European manufacturers's modern GT car's in the global market and also raced swiftly dominated various world-renowned racing events, made the American muscled cars with boundless power, seem like powerless and should be pull over from the global competition’s harshness.

The prototype of the Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring appears with exposed front wheels and the P-100 gargantuan 'twin' headlights. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

As we all knew, each had its appeals, each its drawbacks. But the Gaylord brothers wanted it all, namely a car with capable performance to compete on the LeMans or Monaco circuits, while still able to carry its occupants in comfort over the finest streets of Paris or New York. Since then, they began looking for who could build the world's most advanced, spectacular and exclusive luxury grand tourer sports car (as they desire above), later the car is named the Gaylord Gladiator.

The Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring 'production' version appears with enclosed front wheels and conventionally-sized "quad" headlights. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

To make the dream car into a reality, they went to the famous Wisconsin's auto designer Brooks Stevens, and then the designer gave his ideas about grandiose grilles and huge headlamps, recalling the features of prewar grand touring cars. In short, at that time the Gaylord brothers agreed with those Stevens' designs, and the car is also of historic significance in that it featured the very first automotive retractable hardtop model.

The Gaylord Gladiator Phaeton design proposal by Brooks Stevens, as the four doors model but never made it.. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

And after the completion of the design process, the Gaylord brothers handed over the car construction to Karosseriebau Hermann Spohn, a Ravensburg, Germany based coachbuilder company. It's planned that the Gladiator will be produced in 2 different models, namely 2-door and 4-door models (this model was never made) with a production capacity of 25 units per year. The first Gladiator Sports-Touring debuted at the 42nd Paris Auto Salon in the 1955.

On the wood dash, there are the "Gaylord" branded customized VDO gauges with the Gladiator's sword motif, stared out at the awestruck driver. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

At that time, the Gladiator would be sold at the price ranging of $17,500 per unit (or the equivalent of 4 Corvettes). Although expensive, there are several buyers on list for the Gladiator, including the deposed Egyptian King Farouk and several Hollywood stars such Dick Powell, Grace Kelly, William Holden, etc. It seems that the high price of the car (which was two times of the most expensive Cadillac at the time, the stunning El Dorado Brougham) was quite comparable to its quality and sophisticated chassis design so that no other car could match it.

The Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring's cockpit was trimmed in the finest leather and burled wood, plus the real chrome accents were everywhere. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

The Gaylord brothers designed a very strong chrome-molybdenum tubular chassis, using coil springs and A-arms for the front suspension and a beam axle with leaf springs for the rear. The suspension made extensive use of rubber and the passenger compartment was virtually impervious to shock from rough road surfaces while maintaining unparealled handling and cornering ability for the time.

The Gaylord brothers designed a very strong chrome-molybdenum tubular chassis, using coil springs and A-arms for the front suspension and a beam axle with leaf springs for the rear. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

Not to mention, there were so many luxury abounded within the car. The cockpit was trimmed in the finest leather and burled wood, plus the real chrome accents were everywhere. On the wood dash, there are the "Gaylord" branded customized VDO gauges with the Gladiator's sword motif, stared out at the awestruck driver. Even the spare tire was presented on a tray with chrome rails which slid out from a hatch in the lavishly chromed rear end. The steering effort itself could be controlled by a hydraulic servo unit from the driver's seat.

The Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring 'production' version used a 305 hp Cadillac V-8 engine connnected to a Hydra-Matic four speed transmission. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

Reportedly there were only 4 cars ever built, and the prototype appears with exposed front wheels and the P-100 gargantuan 'twin' headlights. While the other 3 of "production" versions have enclosed front wheels and conventionally-sized "quad" headlights. It's said that the original fender/headlights style was dropped for production apparently because of roadway debris while the enclosed wheel wells featured illumination.

The Gaylord Gladiator Sports-Touring 'production' version used a 305 hp Cadillac V-8 engine connnected to a Hydra-Matic four speed transmission. (Picture from: Chrisinmotion.com)

What about the power? The Gaylord Gladiator's prototype powered by the most powerful engine available at the time, ie a 365-cid Chrysler Hemi V-8 engine which also used in the gorgeous 1955 Chrysler C-300 (the first 300 hp production vehicle), but the production versions used a 305 hp Cadillac V-8 engine connnected to a Hydra-Matic four speed transmission. 

 

Even though the car has a quite hefty weight almost 4,000 lbs, but You should never doubt its performance numbers, it can accelerate from rest to 60 mph in just 8 seconds (the numbers is quite spectacular for that day) and can be lauched to top speed up to 120 mph easily.

As qouted of Chrisinmotion.com, the existence of the 4 Gaylord Gladiator cars ever saw the light of day today, in which two units of the Gaylord Gladiator were seen together on display at the Early American Museum in Silver Springs, Florida, although it appears to have shut down.

One is now on display at the Zeppelin Museum in Frederichshaven, Germany, where it was unveiled in May, 2018. And the other unit is in the hands of private owner in Arizona, Ralph Carrungi, and is the subject of the excellent video above, which details just how stunning this car is. In our opinion,  the Gaylord Gladiator deserved included on the short list of the most extraordinary cars ever made. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MAKESTHATDIDNTMAKEIT | MYCARQUEST | CHRISINMOTION ] 

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The unusual BMW 507 Loewy concept car

ONE-OFF Of course, the world's car lovers must be familiar and understand, when asked about one of the characteristics of BMW car models. Just by looking at what is on the front of those car, there's a distinctive kidney-shaped grille, we can find out about. Then when you look at the following classic BMW car, you will not find those typical-griles characteristics are. Who designed those BMW car model?

1957 BMW 507 Loewy Concept designed by Raymond Loewy and built by Pichon et Parat, a Paris-based coachbuilder. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)

The car is the BMW 507 Loewy Concept, which was designed and built by an American French-born industrial designer named Raymond Loewy. Maybe some of you wanna ask, who is he? He was born in France, then spent most of his professional career in the United States from the early 1930s to the late 1950s with his streamlined design style flourished.

1957 BMW 507 Loewy Concept built based on the legendary BMW 507 under totally unusual styles and designs. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)

He is best known as the designer of the current Shell logo as well as the Lucky Strike logo. In the world's automotive, he is indeed famous for his eccentric works and it could be seen on one of his costly experimental design works called the 1941 Loewy Lincoln. Then he was also known as an automotive designer for Studabaker and one of his famous works is Studebaker Avanti. No wonder if some called him as Father of Industrial Design.

1957 BMW 507 Loewy Concept powerd by a a 150 horsepower V8 used dual Zenith carburetors, wore aluminum cylinder heads, had dual exhaust and a four-speed gearbox. (Picture from: BMWBlog)

The story of this concept car began when the designer wanted his own unique BMW 507 and appeared in different styles. So in 1957, he purchased a 507 off the show room floor, removed the body and created his own look for the BMW 507. As we know that the BMW 507 is a very famous car model in the 1950s because one of them was once owned by Elvis Presley while he served as the GI's and stationed in Munich, Germany. 

1957 BMW 507 Loewy Concept was used by by Raymond Loewy as a private vehicle before being donated to the Natural History Museum in LA in the 1962. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)

To make his dream car come true, he sent the 507 chassis  to Sens, southeast of Paris, to make the bodywork as his desires at the Pichon et Parat, a specialist coachbuilding company best known for creating several unique one-off bodies on a variety of chassis in the 1950s. At first glance, if you look at the BMW 507 Loewy concept car from the side, it will be clear where he got the inspiration for his later Avanti. 

1957 BMW 507 Loewy Concept sat on display at the 2013 Peeble Beach Concours. (Picture from: BMWBlog)

Besides that in the BMW 507 Loewy concept car, you will not find any more distinctive features of those Bavarian car, ranging from the grille shape, headlights and so on. It's totally changed. Perhaps what remains is the engine under the hood, which is a 150 horsepower V8 used dual Zenith carburetors, wore aluminum cylinder heads, had dual exhaust and a four-speed gearbox.

After completion, this concept car was exhibited for the first time at the Paris Auto Salon 1957 although there were no plans to put it into production as it was originally intended as a study design only. After the expo, the car is known to be the Loewy personal vehicle and had seen many times to be driven by him in the French Rivera.

And when he flew back to New York, Loewy brought this car along with him, then pinned NY plates on it and drove for several years before donating it in 1962 to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. The Loewy concept car last appearance in front of the world's automotive public occurred at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CONCEPTCARZ | BMWBLOG ]

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All-new Touring Aero 3 inspired by Alfa Romeo classic supercars

SuperBEAST Not long ago in the 2020, there's a new car model built based on the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and was launched by an Italian coachbuilder company, the Touring Superleggera. The car was then given the name of Touring Aero 3 which visually displays the nuances of a modern combination with retro, and not only gives an attractive appearance, but also affects the car's performance.

2020 Touring Aero 3 visually displays the nuances of a modern combination with retro, and not only gives an attractive appearance, but also affects the car's performance. (Picture from: DriveTribe)

If we look for a moment this Milan-based coachbuilder company has indeed been working on various European cars for a long time, due to the company has been around since 1926. Of course the Touring Superleggera has its ups and downs in its business journey, even ceased in 1966, and returned in 2008 under newly different management. The uniqueness of the design that is always carried out has made it often glimpsed by automotive manufacturers, such as Aston Martin, BMW and of course Alfa Romeo to be a partner.

2020 Touring Aero 3 posed along with 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Le Mans Speciale (Touring), its inspiration source. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)

It is said that the Aero 3 is inspired by the race car production lines of the 1930s and 1950s, where each unit takes approximately 5 thousand hours to work on and Touring Superleggera plans to make only 15 units of the car. Although the car is based on the Ferrari F12, the Italian coachbuilder company does not necessarily make its appearance completely change, still the F12 silhouette looks dominant combined with a shape that represents the company's engineering capabilities in the aerodynamics. Indeed, the company often test its car models by using the wind tunnels to get finite performance.

2020 Touring Aero 3's interior covered in red combined with detailed aluminum and carbon fiber trim, and Foglizzo genuine leather. (Picture from: Oto.com)

Judging by the appearance that the Aero 3 looks similar to some of the previous Touring Superleggera models with three separate framed openings. Although overall the Aero 3 looks more trapezoidal. There is one thing that is quite interesting, where the hole in the middle looks like an Alfa Romeo's typical triangular grille design. But it should be knew that this car was developed independently, without any collaboration with those Italian brand mentioned above. Furthermore, the two holes flanking on the sides emphasizes the sporty impression, which functions to flow air into the engine room and accompanied by a channel at the end of the bumper that flows air into the front wheel space.

1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 Disco Volante. (Picture from: Trussty)

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Le Mans
Speciale (Touring). (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

While on the car's back has the rounded stern combined with slanted horizontal lights, and the presence of the exhaust holes that wrapped with the square obtuse-angled frames. Those features inspired by the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, the car first developed in 1952, then updated in 2013 and 2016. Besides that, there's also the most attracted element attached at the rear, namely the massive fin pinned from the middle to the rear then continues until the diffuser which makes it at a glance look like an old car. By the existence of those massive fin feature causes the the rear window to be eliminated, as a replacement then a camera system is installed so that the reverse parking process can be carried out safely and properly. 

To optimize the weight, almost all of those Aero 3's classic-styled body elements are made of carbon fiber, so it could be reduced its weight up to 150 kg but with dimensions 200 mm longer than its Ferrari's donor car. Then those lightweight body is mounted on the aluminum chassis of the F12 owned so with the electrical system as well. And according to Louis de Fabribeckers, Chief Designer for Touring Superleggera, that the natural affix to the tear-shaped cabin does not directly contribute to the ability to flow air, but evokes rememberance of Touring's aerodynamic legacy that has been around since the 1930s to date.

2020 Touring Aero 3 is powered by a Ferrari's wild 6.3 liter V12 engine capable of producing 740 PS of power at 8,250 rpm and 689 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. (Picture from: Oto.com)

Furthermore the car is powered by a Ferrari's wild 6.3 liter V12 engine capable of producing 740 PS of power at 8,250 rpm and 689 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. Those engine powers then chanelled through a 7-speed sequential automatic gearbox with paddle shift to drive the car's wheels. Then the the Aero 3's performance claimed is quite impressive, with an acceleration record from zero to 100 kph in 3.1 seconds, and can be driven up to a top speed of 339 kph.

2020 Touring Aero 3's back has the rounded stern combined with slanted horizontal lights, and the presence of the exhaust holes that wrapped with the square obtuse-angled frames. (Picture from: Motor1)

As You can be seen the unit shown in the article, it's look to be painted with Stratosphere Red, is the same color put on the 2013 Disco Volante. While on the side of the car's body, there's is a number of 19, which references to the long-nosed race car number of Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B LM Coupe Berlinetta Aerodinamica made by Touring Superleggera raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of the 1938. The same hue also covers the interior, but is combined with detailed aluminum and carbon fiber trim, and Foglizzo genuine leather.

Even though the Aero 3 has been introduced, to date Touring has not disclosed the selling price for each unit. By looking at the car's detailed explaination above, besides that it also can be personalized according to customer desires, offcourse do not expect the car's price is cheap, its possiblity touching 7 digits. Even so, the Milan-based company recently said that three units of the Aero 3 have been sold. So.. Are you interested in becoming the next unit owner? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOMOBILEMAG | CARSTYLING.RU | AUTOEVOLUTION ]

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