Stump The Best And Brightest: Coachbuilt Roadster-Sedanca Identification Edition
April 13th, 2010 12:04 PM
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From our regular Curbside Classic Clues, to a recent headline hunt for This American Life, TTAC’s Best and Brightest have proven again and again that they’re the internet’s go-to resource for crowdsourced identification of the most obscure elements of automotive esoterica. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s even possible to stump some of you guys. Which is why I sat up and took notice of Hemmings Motor News’s Twitter appeal for help identifying this obscure, coachbuilt baby, posted at Coachbuilt.com. I figure this is as good a shot as I’ll ever have at pushing the limits of your collective automotive knowledge. Or, proverbially, not.
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The really interesting part is that it looks like the rear "roof" section folds forwards like a giant rumble seat. Also @herb, the VIP role is unlikely, typically they favored the landaulette style with a roof at the front and a convertible rear section so the VIPs could be seen. The "ailerons" are just steps instead of a full length running board.
Check out the big rims and low-pros! Bling bling, baby!
The enclosed front leaf-springs say Locomobile to me. However, I don't recall a Loco without full running boards. Regardless, I'm running with a coachbuilt Loco. There's sooooo many ways that Locomobiles were customized (~$9500 in the early teens!!!) that I'm going to stick with that. The spring covers, rad, headlights and such all seem consistent with a Loco. Perhaps a model 48. Of course, I could be terribly wrong. I'm not a hardcore pre-war guy.
This car is a 1920 Carrm Model B Convertible, based on an Amco (American Motors Co.) chassis. It could also be called a 1920 Amco with a Carrm Convertible body. Two Carrm prototypes were created, several years apart. The car is able to change from a roadster to a touring car. This vehicle was presented at the 1919 New York Passenger Car Show. There are many images available online of the first Carrm prototype, but very few of this example.