1939 Futurliner
The story
At more than 12 tons, 33 feet long, 8 feet wide, more than 11 feet tall and complete with an Allison J-35 jet engine display, the 1939 Futurliner No. 3 Power for the Air Age. The Futurliner was part of a group of custom vehicles styled by Harley Earl for General Motors during its 1939 Parade of Progress. Each numbered Futurliner covered a different topic from jet engine technology and agriculture to stereophonic sound and microwave ovens.
Engine & Transmission
Engine is a GMC 302 ci straight 6 gas engine with a Hydra-matic 4-speed automatic transmission. The coolest part of this is the Allison J-35 Jet Engine Cutaway in the display box. The jet engine doesn’t power the Futurliner, even though our insurance company swears it does, and that’s why they promptly cancelled after the show came out.
Chassis
Original and Restored and strengthened.
Body Modifications
About 20% of the skeleton remained in salvageable condition, but the rest had to be replaced. We strengthened the notoriously weak roof structure that supported the retractable light bar mounted to the roof. Along with the braking system now instead of the original where if you didn’t have air then you have no brakes.
Paint
Originally the paint had been roller brush painted with white and red, but of course that was not going to fly for the restoration, so we did all the body work perfectly and transported the Futurliner so a Semi Truck Paint Shop where we could apply it’s perfect finish, with the help of some friends who paint airplanes.
Interior
Inside the airplane style cockpit your driver sits about 10 feet off the ground right in the center with a commanding view around you, maybe not what's immediately around you. The upholstery is vinyl coated fabric in a two-tone lime and hunter green. JS Custom Interiors was able to replicate the interior based on only black and white photos.
Wheels & Tires
Futurliners’ use an unusual front axle arrangement with dual front and rear wheels, so we needed 8 sets of Coker reproduction tires, replicating the original white wall tires inscribed with “parade of progress”. The wheels are replicated to match the originals.
