1941 GM Parade of Progress 
GM Futurliner Restoration Project
National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States

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1941 Parade
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New Tent
 
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GM Folks Design, Build Futurliners for Show


    Designers of the Industrial Design and Exhibit department of the Styling Section at work on some of the early sketches used in planning the construction of the new "Futurliners." Let to right Raymond Smith and Manuel Tavarez.

    An early working model of the new "Aer-o-Dome" frame which is constructed from an alloy and is arranged in such a manner that it entirely eliminates the necessity for using tent poles. Eric R. Brogren inspects the framework from which  is suspended a synthetic, impregnated canvas top.
    Dressing down the wooden model which was especially constructed to expedite the drawing and forming of the transport curved windshield for the new "Futurliners." Wilbur Koehn and Fred Stiglich, Fleetwood Fisher Division, Detroit, employees shown here.

    The Futurliners, which are 33 feet in length and which were recently completed in the Fleetwood Fisher Body plant in Detroit, have such features as" dual wheels in front, steering wheel in the center of the pilot's compartment and retractable steel-and-aluminum towers which when raised serve to illuminate the exposition area. Electronically-operated doors of the "Futurliners" reveal spectacular exhibits showing research progress. Light and power for the exposition are supplied by a specially constructed GM Diesel electric plant, which is a specially constructed GM Diesel electric plant, which is said to be one of the most complete mobile power plants in existence. The Parade of Progress will show to various communities in the South during the winter months, moving northward as the weather permits. These photographs show various stages of designing and manufacturing activities.


    Placing the reinforcing tubing into plaster form which was used in making the casting pattern for the giant streamlined "Futurliners" rear quarter diagonal brace hammer form. Left to right, John Nogs, William Harnisch and Fred Stiglich, Fleetwood Division.

    Tightening clamps which hold freshly formed plastic windshield to wooden form. Plastic was placed on form while warm and stretched to remove irregularities is glass for Joseph Okray, Arlando Palango, Frank Bielaski, Emerson Bishop and Richard Dooley.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any additional information about the history or whereabouts of additional Futurliners, we would like to hear from you. Our objective is to capture as much of the history of these vehicles as possible.

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