What’s
Happening! |
- The weekly work group has resumed now that summer is behind us. The
group continues to involve 8-10 guys working all day Tuesdays plus
additional time at home working on some of the parts they take home with
them.
- Thru the kind help of Jack Halton, NOS (new old stock) 302 cu
in. engine short blocks have been purchased. It turns out to be a better
deal than trying to rebuild the existing engine and gives us the spare
engine we need to do a separate drivetrain display assembly.
- Bill Bicknell
, our volunteer to restore the engine, now has these
two NOS shorts block engines as well as the original Futurliner engine.
Bill has started on the engine rebuild. (Bill’s other life is as an
engine engineer and Program manager for the development of 5000 HP V-16
natural gas engines!)
- On the mechanical side, Del Carpenter, Basil Lewis and Dick Saddler
have completely disassembled the front steering, brakes, axle and
springs. Weller Truck has reconditioned all the front end parts
and returned them to us. Thanks to Weller Truck! The next step is
painting and starting the assembly with all new bearings that have been
purchased.
- The starter and generator have been overhauled and painted thru the
courtesy of Jim Lohrberg Sales. Again another kind and
appreciated contribution.
- The major work on the body of the vehicle continues to remove old
sheet metal and structural steel, rebuilding new and welding in place.
Specific areas underway include the structural sections in the cab, the
right front passenger door, the left front engine access door, the two
rear access doors, the rear structural sections and the two lower cargo
doors.
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| Web Site |
- Pass on the web site address to your friends. This communication
tool has brought us help and information from many unexpected places.
If you have never seen the web pages, find someone that has access to
the Internet and ask them to bring it up. You will both enjoy it. Be
sure to check out all the links and pages that are accessible from the
front page of the site.
- All of these newsletters are on the site – if you would prefer to
read them only on-line, let us know and we’ll delete the mailed
copy.
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Other
Volunteers |
- The number of people continuing to step
forward and volunteer the use of their facilities or help off-site is
incredible. Recent additions include:
- Bethelem Steel
will be helping us in supplying some of the steel
for the roof section. On the frame work of our Futurliner, "Bethelem"
is cast into the vertical sections.
- GM Body Design
is in the process of redesigning the structural
part of the roof. We should receive new drawings this month to allow us
to rebuilt the top structure stronger than the original vehicles. This
was a weak spot in the originals, especially when the upper doors were
opened.
- As a result of the efforts of Jack Halton, "Inliners
International" is supporting our project through their web
site and links to ours. Already, we have had offers to help us find
engine parts. Their web site is www.inliners.com.
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Project
Needs |
- The following items are some of the key "needs yet to be
filled". They are also listed in more detail on the web site. If
you can help in any of these areas, please contact us.
- A separate running display of the complete powertrain is planned and
we have the second engine and transmissions. However, we need an
enclosed trailer to mount it and to be able to haul it to various
display sites.
- Structural metal – various sizes and types
- Steel fabricator for the redesigned roof
- Sheet metal for body panels
- Engine parts for the two NOS 302 cu in engines – generator,
starter, heads, water & oil pumps, oil pan, distributor, fan,
complete gaskets sets, etc.
- Source to rebuild the 240 V AC generator along with its control
panel
- Wiring harnesses and materials
- (A 5 ton floor jack has been purchased and donated to the project.)
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Other
Volunteers |
- The number of people continuing to step forward and
volunteer the use of their facilities or help off-site is incredible. Recent additions
include:
- A Colorado automotive restoration shop volunteered to
provide the labor to upholster the cockpit. That includes the drivers seat and the 2
passenger seats. We will work out shipping the seat cushions to Colorado but to do this in
order, we need to obtain enough material for everything.
- Coker Tire will supply the wide white wall tires.
However, to get the mold changed to insert the original letters "GENERAL MOTORS,
PARADE OF PROGRESS" "US ROYAL", "FLEETWAY" in the sidewall will
require about $35,000. At this point, we do not have the funds to cover this significant
expense. Potentially other Futurliners might use these special tires and share the cost.
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| Paraders |
- Mark Noakes
sent us 16
scanned photos that his dad has collected. William Noakes was a Parader
in 1953-54 and joined the group in Frankfort KY. Bill normally presented
the atmosphere, powered metal and the Allison turbine exhibits. He also
has more than 20 photos and newspaper clippings. Bill was also with the
Motorama from 1955 until he got married soon after. He now lives in
Ripley, MS
- The Paraders had a reunion at Frank Bredewig’s cottage in
Commerce, Michigan. Don was able to attend and meet Jim & Jean
Morris, Tony & Eleanor Gagliardi, Charles & Barbara Tangora,
Jim & Jane Gentzel, Don Cadger and Larry Finn. Jim Gentzel
sent a note listing 4 previous reunions from 1991 thru1995. Numerous
pieces of literature were shared and the discussion included the
difficulty driving these big rigs with poor brakes, visibility near
the front and rear, fun in the mud with these heavy vehicles, the
excellent organization at the "Parade Shows", and the
versatile job skills of all the Paraders.
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|
History |
- A report from a member of the "Inliners International"
(a group founded in 1981 for enthusiasts of inline engines such as the
302 in the Futurliner) indicates that a number of these vehicles were
seen in a junkyard near Brockport NY (between Rochester and Buffalo).
We’re checking with people we know in that area to see if any
further info can be obtained.
- The 1962-63 annual report for Industrial Nucleonics shows a
photo of 2 Futurliners in their parking lot. They were used to display
their scientific testing equipment at that time. They are (were?)
located in Columbus Ohio and were sold by them sometime after 1963.
Three existed, one was scrapped and 2 were sold. So if anyone out
there has any other info on these, please let us know.
- We previously knew that one was used by the Driesbach Cadillac
dealer in Detroit for the same purpose (which is our vehicle) and two
were used by the Michigan State Police.
- The mystery of why all the photos only showed 8-10 vehicles was
cleared up when Don learned that usually 1-2 were in for repair or
display upgrades nearly all the time.
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Status
of
Other
Futurliners |
- The Sept 2000 issue of "Car Collector" magazine has
a good article about the restored Futurliner of Bob Valdez in Calif.
that has been upgraded to a motor home. As we have mentioned before,
it has an all new drivetrain and interior but outside however, it
looks very close to the original. There is a reference to our project
and web site at the end of the article. Bob’s vehicle also was
written up in the Los Angeles Times this last summer along with
a mention of our project and web site.
- The Paraders picnic (see above) revealed that one of the vehicles
was used by Stroh’s Brewery in Detroit for advertising after the
show closed. If anyone has photos of this, we would appreciate copies.
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| Misc.
Notes |
- At the Labor Day ACD (Auburn Cord Duesenberg) Festival this year, NATMUS
set up a display with a 1958 truck tractor coupled to a vintage trailer.
(NATMUS) is on the same property in Auburn Ind. as the ACD museum for
those of you who have not been there.) Inside the trailer were photos of
vintage cars and trucks that NATMUS has on display. Photos of the
Futurliner project were included also. Many of our project volunteers
attended including Don Mayton, Jim Baker, Wes Myrick, Bruce Beimers,
Ed DeVries, Ryan DeVries, and Bill Bicknell.
- The project is accumulating vast amounts of documentation and history
that will be a part of the historical records. This is rapidly becoming
a significant task just to keep track of all the material coming out of
the woodwork. All of it is greatly appreciated.
- The first Parade of Progress occurred in 1936 using 8 different
vehicles called Streamliners. We have no technical information about
these vehicles and very few pictures. If anyone has any information on
these vehicles or on this first "Parade", we would appreciate
anything you can supply to add to the documentation mentioned above.
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Financial
Status |
- Contributions now total $20,000 plus an estimated $60,000 worth of
"in-kind", or services, contributions. Your continued
support is appreciated on either type. The form below can be used to
send financial contributions directly to NATMUS if you desire.
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