build espouse role . Chryslerdiscredited that axiom with the flowing Airflow of 1934 . It was a dashing hopes both in show and in the marketplace , but Alex Tremulis , of Briggs Manufacturing ’s styling section , believed a couple of flowing show cars – let in the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Roadster – would help furbish up Chrysler ’s report .
Classic Cars Image Gallery
The cars would be constructed by Briggs - own LeBaron in less than five calendar month – among the last cars built by the famous coachbuilder . The Golden Arrow and Thunderbolt land speed - record car served as inspiration ; " The Measured Mile make a New Motor Car " was the idea behind the two show gondola .
In reality , neither railroad car looked like its namesake . The Golden Arrow was renamed Newport at the last minute . A graceful dual - bonnet phaeton , it would later pace the 1941 Indianapolis 500 .
The Thunderbolt ( name for Captain George Eyston ’s 357.5 - mph phonograph record holder of 1938 ) was a two - room access with retractable metal top . Pushbuttons hold in the out of sight headlights , windows , rearward deck , and top .
The Thunderbolt featured a full - envelope body with costate cradle panels inspire by Budd streamliner trains . The curved - glass windshield was the largest attempted at that time . The wraparound grille bar influenced the late Chrysler " harmonica " lattice and hidden headlights turn up on 1942 DeSotos .
A standard 1941 New Yorker / Saratoga form was used with an Imperial 143 - horsepower L - head straight - eight paired to Fluid Drive , atorque converterthat could be used to eliminate most unfirm and clutch work . The system was smooth but sluggish .
The first Chrysler Thunderbolt was completed in time for the New York Auto Show . Five more followed with slight trim variations and were shown across the state . All were finally sold at prices start at $ 6,000 .
Four Thunderbolts are known to survive . The one featured here is have by the Blackhawk Collection , of Danville , California , and is genuinely restored , according to Chrysler records .
