SAHJournal ISSUE 290 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018 SAH Journal No. 290 • January / February 2018 $5.00 US1 Contents 3 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE SAHJournal 4 THE ANNUAL SAH AWARDS PRESENTATION, HERSHEY, PA ISSUE 290 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 6 THE TUCKER TORPEDO: BIRTH OF AN ICON 8 THE MICHAEL R. ARGETSINGER 2017 SYMPOSIUM THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORIANS, INC. ON INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACING HISTORY An Affiliate of the American Historical Association 11 BOOK REVIEWS 14 IN MEMORIAM Officers Billboard Louis F. Fourie President Diecast Hall of Fame: Since its Japanese is currently needed.) Please contact Edward Garten Vice President Robert Casey Secretary foundation in 2009, the DHF has grown the editor directly. Thank you! Rubén L. Verdés Treasurer into one of the diecast community’s best- known and favorite events. SAH member Joint SAH and HVA Auto- Board of Directors Andrew Beckman (ex-officio) † Christian Braun became its chairman last motive History Conference: Robert G. Barr ∆ year. Over the years 167 inductees have April 12-14, 2018, at the Historic Vehicle H. Donald Capps # passed into its annals, including luminaries Association, National Laboratory, Allen- Donald J. Keefe ∆ like Carroll Shelby, Jay Leno, and Larry town, Pennsylvania. Save the date; and for Kevin Kirbitz # Wood. For more details, visit their website full details, visit autohistory.org. Carla R. Lesh † John A. Marino # at: diecasthall.com. Robert Medis † Matthew Short ∆ Wanted: Contributors! The SAH Vince Wright † Journal invites contributors for articles and Terms through October (†) 2018, (∆) 2019, and (#) 2020 book reviews. (A book reviewer that can read Editor Rubén L. Verdés 7491 N. Federal Hwy., Ste C5337 Front cover: Jeff Mahl, our keynote speaker at the SAH awards presentation in Hershey, arranged Boca Raton, FL 33487-1625 USA for this 1916 Studebaker (chassis 25083) owned by Dennis Barfield to be displayed at our tent on the Orange field during AACA Eastern Regional Fall Meet. This car crossed the U.S. in 2011, and now [email protected] it is signed up to participate in the 110th anniversary run of the 1908 Great Race. The race will [email protected] start in New York on June 18, 2018; and for two reference websites, see: 2018nytoparis.com and tel: +1.561.866.5010 thegreatautorace.com. A good reference is Hard Driving: The 1908 Auto Race From New York to Paris Publications Committee by Dermot Cole (ISBN: 978-1557783608) published in 1991. A review appears in SAH Journal No. 139. Thomas S. Jakups, Chair Patricia E. Chappell Back cover: This promotional ad for the Tucker Torpedo appeared in the December 1946 issue of Louis F. Fourie Science Illustrated. This particular example has the distinction, as noted at the bottom, to have been part of the "Alex Tremulis Archives" and the obscured area that looks to have been made Christopher G. Foster by adhesive tape covers the original footer that gave the date of the issue, but it's hand written Donald J. Keefe in the bottom right of the page. Alex Tremulis was an industrial designer who worked at Cord, Rubén L. Verdés Duesenberg, Ford, GM, and Tucker. The following details are from the Tucker Automobile Club of Steve Wilson America website (tuckerclub.org/alexander-sarantos-tremulis/): "Alexander Sarantos Tremulis SAH Journal (ISSN 1057–1973) (1914 – 1991) was the chief stylist at the Tucker corporation from 1947 to 1949, where he played a is published six times a year by The crucial role in making Preston Tucker’s dream into automotive reality: the legendary Tucker 48 (also known as the Tucker Torpedo), a sleek fastback sedan with a rear engine and unique 3-headlight Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. array in the front. In addition to his work for Tucker (including the design of the concept Talisman), Subscription is by membership in the Society. Alex Tremulis’ 60 year long career from 1933 to his death put him in the front lines of envisioning Membership dues are $50 per year ($60 transportation from some of the most celebrated automobiles of all time, to advanced concepts in trains and space flight… and even flying saucers." per year outside North America & Mexico); digital membership dues are $20. Dues and changes of address go to: Submission Deadlines: Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Deadline: 12/1 2/1 4/1 6/1 8/1 10/1 c/o Cornerstone Registration Ltd. Issue: Jan/Feb Mar/Apr May/Jun Jul/Aug Sep/Oct Nov/Dec P.O. Box 1715 Mailed: 1/31 3/31 5/31 7/31 9/30 11/30 Maple Grove, MN 55311-6715 USA Note: the SAH Journal is a bimonthly publication (printed 6 times a year) and there is ©2018 a two-month horizon for submitted material before it is mailed (e.g., material sub- The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. mitted by February 1st appears in the Mar/Apr issue and is mailed on or before 3/31.) www.autohistory.org All letters, manuscripts, and advertisement submissions and inquiries go to the editor. Join, renew and more right on-line! 2 SAH Journal No. 290 • January / February 2018 PPresident’sresident’s of the last century. This sapped the resources that might otherwise have created and engi- PPerspectiveerspective neered appealing cars instead of regulatory compliant appliances. By all accounts Mark Fields of Ford has s historians we are likely to promote been a highly respected industry leader, but Athe thought that if we do not respect his failure to articulate a future for Ford’s the past we will repeat previous mistakes involvement in autonomous vehicles likely that we might have been able to learn from. led to his forced departure. Consider that Alternately, what guidance has Alexander Henry Ford was the greatest disrupter of his Graham Bell provided in the creation of the era, but then had to react as GM, followed smart phone? Consider the disruption of Uber by Chrysler, overtook his company because and Airbnb who have zero investments in cars Henry refused to grasp the future. Maybe or hotels. Is the automotive industry about to Ford looked at its history and realized that its embark on similar uncharted territory? current leadership needs to have the capacity For someone like myself who has exam- and foresight to anticipate the future. ined at great lengths GM’s involvement in Whatever happens with future technol- Europe, departing this market simply could ogy, automotive history will continue to un- not be justifi ed. This was especially question- fold and generations ahead will refl ect back able when you consider that GM paid the as we do, trying to evaluate the challenges PSA Group to take over Opel and Vauxhall of the past. The sad part is that in the same when you factor in pension obligations. manner that few people today know the But what if Mary Barra and her fellow pleasure of human interaction with a horse, executives recognize the need to start scal- so too will our future generations not know ing down GM’s investment in factories? A vary around the world and you begin to the skill and delight in harnessing the power future of bidding for large contracts to build understand another reason for GM’s con- and handling of an automobile. homogeneous transport modules is hardly traction from several global markets. If you —Louis F. Fourie a lucrative industry to be in. By shedding believe PSA’s claim that GM’s European these fi xed assets along with future pension engines would not be compliant with future Robert & Christine Starinsky (4454) obligations in a progressive manner would standards without unprofi table electric cars, Glendale Heights, IL position GM to be more nimble and able to you realize that maybe, just maybe, leaving [email protected] react to a changing environment. Europe was justifi ed after all. Consider also William & Ann Scheffl er (4455) Throw in the highly regulated environ- that GM may recall the cost of meeting all Palm Springs, CA ment where emission and safety standards the regulations in the USA towards the end wlscheffl [email protected] Ross Bassett (4456) Wheels in Time Raleigh, NC [email protected] Mauro Borella (4459) Milano, Italy [email protected] George & Connie Bradley (4460) Miami Shores, FL [email protected] Roger Hill (4462) Paris, OR [email protected] Eric Bickel (4463) Austin, TX [email protected] Martin & Becky Merritt (4464) NEW MEMBERS Pearland, TX [email protected] Mark Dwyer (4465) Wake Forest, NC [email protected] Dan & Susan Eastwood (4466) South Lyon, MI This photo of a 1896 Morris Salem Electric Coupe is sourced from: [email protected] chuckstoyland.com/category/automotive/early-electric-cars/ SAH Journal No. 290 • January / February 2018 3 TThehe kkeynoteeynote sspeakerpeaker wwasas JJeffeff MMahlahl wwhosehose ggreat-grandfatherreat-grandfather GGeorgeeorge SAH president AAndrewndrew BBeckmaneckman announcesannounces SSchusterchuster SSr.r. waswas tthehe ddriverriver ofof thethe tthehe CCugnotugnot AAward—Englishward Language fforor TThomashomas FFlyerlyer tthathat wwonon thethe 11908908 GGreatreat Douglas Leighton, wwhoho waswas unableunable toto attend.attend RRace,ace, ddeliverselivers hhisis ppresentationresentation oonn tthehe The award will be presented in Paris. HHarraharrah rrestorationestoration ofof thethe NewNew York-to-York-to- PParisaris TThomashomas FFlyer.lyer. Excellence in the writing of history is diffi - cult to achieve. Research must be thorough HHEE NNNUALNUAL WWARDSARDS RRESENTATIONESENTATION and clearly documented. Prose must be clear T A SSAHAH A P and captivate readers. Analyses and explana- HEERSHEY,RSHEY, PEENNSYLVANIANNSYLVANIA tions must offer original insights. Anders Clausager’s study of the Wolseley company he 49th Annual Meeting of Members and its products meets these criteria admira- T& Gala Awards Banquet took place on bly. Readers commended the book as “auto- Friday, October 6th at the Hershey Country motive history at its best” which will be “ac- Club during “Hershey”—the AACA Eastern cepted as the fi nal authority” on the subject.