Mystery Friday Foto #4 Solved: The 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt concept car with links to Tucker 1044 and 1937 Chrysler’s Chrysler
Did you identify this photo found in the Helck Family Collection of an early concept car?
Identify the following;
- Year, make and model
- How many were built?
Five (maybe six) with four currently accounted for today. Each of the original Thunderbolts received a different color combination and was marked by a discreet lightning bolt on the smoothly contoured aluminum doors. Subtle differences, such as the exterior wraparound trim and dashboard finishes, made each car unique from the others.
1. Green "The Copper Car"
Chassis #7807943, Engine #C30-1323. Originally owned by actor Bruce Cabot, later owned by Paul Stern, William Harrah, Dr. Gerald DePersio and sold to anonymous purchaser in 2011. Appeared at Pebble Beach in 2009. Offered at RM Arizona in 2010 but did not sell, sold at RM Monterey in 2011 for $935,000. Green with copper top and trim and green interior.
Dr. Gerard DePersico (2014): Source Hemmings 2015:
(1)- There were only 5 Newports and 5 Thunderbolts made, according to Ralph Roberts, whom I talked to in 1986- "Walter Chrysler ordered 6 of each but they simply ran out of time, and only 5 of each were finished".
(2)-They were 1941 cars. Although built in 1940, they all had 1941 engines, and were first shown at the N.Y. Auto Show on 10/12/1940- for 1941 cars. They were designed by Alex Tremulis & built by LeBaron; they featured a stunning full envelope streamlined body and an electrically operated retractable hardtop.
My particular car was purchased by the actor Bruce Cabot on 2/1941 for $8,250 on the western caravan. Mr Cabot added speed equipment (dual Strombergs with Edmunds manifold). The car was sold to Bill Harrah in 1969. I purchased the car from the Harrah's Auto Auction in 9/1985. In 1954 a Chrysler 331 hemi engine was installed by B&H Motors of San Francisco, and the Thunderbolt engine was installed in a 1932 Chrysler CP-8 conv sedan. I had a chance phone call with a Mr Hageman regarding a car of his for sale when he told me of the unusual 1932 Chrysler with a " Thunderbolt engine " ! I exclaimed "you have my engine " ! I subsequently purchased the 1932 Chrysler and my Thunderbolt was reunited with its original engine at Chris Kidd's " Tired Iron Works" in Monrovia, Ca. A two and a half year- concours restoration ensued.
It was first shown at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours, where it won the "Camille Jenatzy award " for the car with the most audacious exterior. It was then shown at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours, where it placed third in class. Incidentally, it completed the 72 mile Tour d' Elegance without a hitch, with my identical twin as co-pilot! The car. . was literally mobbed with spectators in Carmel.
Additional history- This is the only Thunderbolt surviving with the correct mechanical headlamp mechanism, the correct wiper indents in the hood with correct cowl vent. Also the original hydraulic windows and the only Thunderbolt engine with period speed equipment. Also this car has a second battery in-line, and a remote wireless controller for the top installed by myself ! And finally, the only Thunderbolt with copper plated bumpers and trim. This car was sold to an anonymous (euro or middle east) collector in 2010.
2. Red with White Interior and Silver Top
Chassis # 7807976, Unknown Engine. Reportedly the fourth Thunderbolt built. Originally sold to the Mexican vice-president, later owned by Paul Stern, Bob Adams, Joe Levy Jr., Joseph Murphy, Donald Appel, and current owner Roger Willbanks. Appeared at Pebble Beach in 1996 and 1997. Sold at RM Arizona in 2006 for $1,210,000, sold at RM Arizona in 2008 for $1,320,000.
3. Gray with Gray Top,
Unknown Chassis #, Unknown Engine #. Currently was in the collection of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, which closed permanently in 2016. The museum's assets were sold to the Chrysler Foundation in 2016. The automobiles are shown at special events.
4. Black
Unknown Chassis #, Unknown Engine. Currently in the collection of Richard Driehaus.
5. Unknown
Does anyone know where the fifth Thunderbolt looked like and its location?
- Link this automobile to Tucker 1044
Both automobiles were designed by Alex Tremulis.
- Link this automobile to the 1937 Chrysler's Chrysler
Both automobiles were built by LeBaron. Both automobiles have straight-8 engines and were built on the Imperial frame with an aluminum body.
- The last time the car was sold, or not sold.
The green Chrysler Thunderbolt "The Copper Car" was sold to an unidentified buyer at the 2011 RM Monterey auction for $935,000 ($1.22 million today).
Comments: 7
Congrats to Phil Pfersching, David Miller, Steve Tremulis (Alex Tremulis' nephew), Steve Lucas, Hugh Nutting, Dick Gorman for identifying the Chrysler Thunderbolt. Kudos to Phil Pfersching, Steve Tremulis, Steve Lucas, Hugh Nutting and Dick Gorman for linking the Chrysler Thunderbolt to Chrysler's Chrysler and Tucker 1044.
Enjoy,
Greg O. and Howard Kroplick
Close-Up
Comments
1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt. Five / six were built to tour the new car shows and dealer showrooms. Both the Tucker and Thunderbolt were designed by Alex Tremulis. It shares Electro-Hydraulic windows with the Chrysler’s Chrysler and share the same straight eight engine.
This is a 1940 Chrysler Thunderbolt. 5 of these concept cars were built. The idea for the vehicle originated from Alex Tremulis who later went on to help design the “Tucker Torpedo”. The last time a Thunderbolt sold was in 1985.
Ahhh, Alex Tremulis’ 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt, a tribute to Capt. George Eyston’s land speed record setting car of the same name (Tremulis obtained permission directly from Eyston to use the Thunderbolt name). Five were built, although some sources say six. Tremulis, the designer of the Thunderbolt, was also the designer of the Tucker ‘48, but also helped finish the Tucker ‘48 builds after the plant was shuttered, including #1044. The link to Chrysler’s Chrysler would be that both it and the Thunderbolt were built by LeBaron (Tremulis had worked with the two most noted LeBaron designers, Ralph Roberts and John Tjaarda). The green Thunderbolt sold in the 2011 Monterey auction for $935,000, although the red one sold in 2008 for $1,320,000. The Thunderbolt was one of the earliest and most influential concept cars with its runningboard-less envelope body, almost a decade before most manufacturers. Also noteworthy: It incorporated the first retractable metal hardtop in a US-made car, the mechanics of which were worked out by Ralph Roberts. So stylish, even Gloria Vanderbilt (pic attached) used it to exemplify her good taste in design.
That’s a 1940/1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Retractable Hardtop Convertible Coupe. There were either 5 or 6 built depending on which source you believe. It was designed by Alex Tremulis who also designed the Tucker. The were all built by LeBaron, the same company that built the 1937 Chrysler’s Chrysler. After touring America with stops at various dealerships throughout the country, the were sold to individuals for around $6,000 each give or take. They all still exist today. One sold for $1.21 million in 2006 at RM Auctions; another went for $1.32 million at RM Auctions in 2008; another was offered at $1.175 million in 2009 (also at RM) but did not sell.
The 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt was built in 1940 by LeBaron - designed by Alex Tremulis who also did the Tucker design. It went to 1940 Auto Shows and then on tour to Chrysler Dealers. Over the years it has been painted several different colors. Last sold for $1.2 million in 2006. It and the concept Newport were built in 3 months.
This Chrysler Thunderbolt was built in 1940 as a 1941 concept car. Alex Tremulis worked out the design for LeBaron. After its original visits to 1940 Auto Shows it went on tours to Chrysler Dealers. It was sold in 2006 for $1.2 million. Over its life time it has painter several different colors.
Mystery Foto #4…The Concept Car is a 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt prototype.Five examples were built, all with a different color scheme. This car was designed by Alex Tremulis, as was the Tucker. The Thunderbolt used the same Chrysler Imperial chassis (frame) as Chrysler’s Chrysler.The Thunderbolt was offered for sale at RM Auctions in august of 2011 and sold for $935,000.
2012 I had some time off so I did some winter travel in Michigan. I went to all the auto museums I could find open. At every one I was the only visitor in the building with the exception of the Dearborn Ford Engineering Museum. There was a section remodeled and the opening was on that day so there were many people at the exhibit. Attached are three photos from the now defunct Chrysler Museum.
This is wild!