dWRENCHED SPECIAL

The Phantom Corsair six-passenger coupé prototype built in 1938. 

   ''Designed by Rust Heinz of the H. J. Heinz family and Maurice Schwartz of the Bohman & Schwartz coach building company in Pasadena, California. Although sometimes dismissed as a failure because it never entered production, the Corsair is regarded as ahead of its time due to its futuristic features and styling cues such as faired-in fenders and a low profile. 
   Rust Heinz planned to put the Phantom Corsair, which cost approximately $24,000 to produce in 1938 (equivalent to about $370,000 in 2010) into limited production at an estimated selling price of $12,500. However, Heinz’s death in a car accident in July 1939 ended those plans, leaving the prototype Corsair as the only one ever built.''

   ''The Lycoming 80º V8-powered Cord chassis also featured front-wheel drive and an electrically operated four-speed automatic gearbox, as well as fully independent suspension and adjustable shock absorbers. Though these features from the Cord 810 chassis were all retained on the Phantom Corsair, the chassis was modified in order to accommodate the Corsair’s large body. The body measured an impressive 237 inches long and 76.5 inches wide, enough to accommodate four people in the front row, including one person to the left of the driver. The back seats could only hold two passengers, however, in large part because of space limitations posed by on-board beverage cabinets.   
   Though weighing a hefty 4,600 lb, the Phantom Corsair could achieve speeds of up to 115 mph because of its modified, naturally aspirated 190 bhp Lycoming engine as well as its aerodynamic shape.''

Simply beautiful...

Quotes by Sunday Slacker