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3. 1947 Norman Timbs Special
Photo Peter Harholdt via High Museum
Norman Timbs was primarily an Indy Car Designer and Engineer, but his forays into road car design gave the world some true one-off innovations. His ‘Special’ was 17 feet long, yet it weighed just 2200 lbs and was pieced together using a Buick straight eight engine with dual carburetors and independent rear suspension, adapted from Ford components. Its real beauty comes from the sleek form of its exterior, with its elongated lines and largely hidden rear wheel. Only one Special was ever made and it’s a shame there weren’t more.
4. 1953 General Motors Firebird 1 XP-21
Photo: Michael Furman via High Museum
Man’s fascination with combining road and aviation capabilities is long established but reached its peak in the post-war era, and the 1953 GM Firebird is one of the great examples of the concept. It was essentially a jet plane on wheels with a turbine engine that was capable of 370 horsepower, a huge amount for its era. A bubble cockpit and tail fin completed its aviation aesthetics, and practicalities were added so it could be driven – such as aircraft style flaps to aid with braking.
