The 1948 TASCO Prototype is Part Plane, Part Car
Specifications:
- Engine: In-Line 8-Cylinder, 289-CID, 115-HP
- Wheelbase: 131"
- Weight: 3500 Lbs
- Cost New: $4,895
Frontal View
Passenger Side View
It’s no coincidence that so many
new car designs came within a few years of the end of World War II. The
U.S. had endured a crippling depression, followed by a global struggle,
and emerged triumphant. The period from 1945 to the early 1960's was one
of unprecedented optimism and unbridled dreams. It seemed that nothing
was impossible, given enough willpower and innovation. That shown
through in the cars of the day.
1948 Tasco Prototype by Gordon Buehrig
A person who exemplified this
attitude was Gordon Buehrig. Born in 1904, he is considered one of the
greatest auto designers of the 20th century. Prior to the war he worked with the legendary Harley Earl at GM, before taking on the position of chief designer for Duesenberg
in 1929. During his time with them, he designed such immortal classics
as the Beverly Sedan, the Torpedo Phaeton, and the Derham Tourster. He
lent his skills to the aircraft industry when the war began, working
from 1941-45 as a designer of aircraft components.
1948 Tasco Prototype T-roof
After the war, Buehrig, inflicted
with a severe case of wanderlust, spent a few years wandering from one
project to the next. In 1948, he joined with the American Sports Car
company, a short-lived venture which sought to enter the automotive
market with innovative new vehicles. At the time, the nation was
obsessed with aviation, and Buehrig was inspired to build a concept car
that would draw heavily from design of fighter planes. Thus was born the
1948 TASCO prototype.
The resemblance to an aircraft is
obvious upon first inspection. The canopy has a sloped-back windshield
and streamlined appearance. The four wheels are sheathed in aluminum,
like the ones used as landing gear. The front grille has marks on it
that resemble air intakes for early jets. The two-person seating is
more akin to that built for a plane than for a land-based conveyance.
Perhaps most significantly, the prototype was the first automobile of
any kind with a T-top roof, for which Buehrig earned a patent.
1948 Tasco Prototype Interior
But it’s when one looks at the
interior that the similarities to an aircraft become profound. The
controls and gauges are unlike those of any vehicle ever meant to be
used on land. A driver might get the impression that they could sail
away into the wild blue yonder, simply by taxiing down a long, straight
length of highway.
The prototype was presented to
managers at the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas, along with a
proposal for them to manufacture it for the general public. They passed
on the opportunity however, and the vehicle was eventually donated to
the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana, where it sits on
display to this day.
1948 Tasco Prototype by Gordon Buehrig off road
Buehrig was offered a position with Ford’s
design department in 1949, a job he kept until 1965. In his later
years, he taught at the Art Center College of Design in California and
worked on several freelance projects.
In 1968, he initiated a lawsuit against Chevrolet, which added a T-top to that year’s Corvette
without giving him recognition or compensation. He was successful in
the effort, and was awarded a judgment that allowed him to live the rest
of his life in comfort. The great designer passed away in 1990, leaving
behind a legacy that few could ever hope to match.
Source: Internet
