Philosophy
A transparent car brought to you by General Motors and Rohm and Haas Company...and shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Not so much to show off the automobile but introduce the world to plastics.
Alongside “glass that bends” and talking flashlights, exhibits at the 1939 New York World’s Fair included the first full-sized transparent car ever made in America, a cool clear car that could be yours.
The 1939 Pontiac Plexiglas Deluxe-Six Ghost Car is going under the auctioneer’s hammer July 30, 2011, in Michigan, and the slick bit of kit could fetch as much as $475,000.
The one-off car was a collaboration between General Motors and chemical company Rohm & Haas, which sought the General’s help showcasing its latest product, Plexiglas. It was featured in the “Highways and Horizons” pavilion at the fair.
The car rides on a Pontiac Deluxe-Six chassis and is powered by an L-head six-cylinder engine with a three-speed gearbox. The body mirrors that of the four-door Touring Sedan, with copper-washed metal and chrome-plated hardware. The car cost $25,000 to build.
GM built a second transparent model based on a Torpedo-Eight chassis, but the Deluxe-Six is the only one known to have survived. After the World’s Fair, it toured GM dealerships and ultimately ended up at the Smithsonian Institution, where it remained until 1947. It then passed into private ownership.
The car has 86 miles on the clock and still rides on its original U.S. Royal tires, which are white. RM auctions says the car runs, but warns that actually driving it would be “unduly detrimental” — both to the car and to the person trying to keep it clean.
Poly (methyl methacrylate) [Wikipedia]
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Philosophy
Poly [methyl methacrylate] and the transparent car...a 1939 Pontiac
A transparent car brought to you by General Motors and Rohm and Haas Company...and shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Not so much to show off the automobile but introduce the world to plastics.
"1939 Clear Car Showcases Miracle of Plexiglas"
by
Katie Scott
June 15th, 2011
Wired UK
by
Katie Scott
June 15th, 2011
Wired UK
Alongside “glass that bends” and talking flashlights, exhibits at the 1939 New York World’s Fair included the first full-sized transparent car ever made in America, a cool clear car that could be yours.
The 1939 Pontiac Plexiglas Deluxe-Six Ghost Car is going under the auctioneer’s hammer July 30, 2011, in Michigan, and the slick bit of kit could fetch as much as $475,000.
The one-off car was a collaboration between General Motors and chemical company Rohm & Haas, which sought the General’s help showcasing its latest product, Plexiglas. It was featured in the “Highways and Horizons” pavilion at the fair.
The car rides on a Pontiac Deluxe-Six chassis and is powered by an L-head six-cylinder engine with a three-speed gearbox. The body mirrors that of the four-door Touring Sedan, with copper-washed metal and chrome-plated hardware. The car cost $25,000 to build.
GM built a second transparent model based on a Torpedo-Eight chassis, but the Deluxe-Six is the only one known to have survived. After the World’s Fair, it toured GM dealerships and ultimately ended up at the Smithsonian Institution, where it remained until 1947. It then passed into private ownership.
The car has 86 miles on the clock and still rides on its original U.S. Royal tires, which are white. RM auctions says the car runs, but warns that actually driving it would be “unduly detrimental” — both to the car and to the person trying to keep it clean.
Poly (methyl methacrylate) [Wikipedia]
- 71 Years Ago And Promises Of The Future
"1939’s ‘World of Tomorrow’ Shaped Our Today" by Jon Snyder April 29th, 2010 Wired The New York World’s Fair of 1939 and 1940 promised visitors they would be looking at the “World of Tomorrow.” Not everything they saw there came true,...
- Chemist's Retort
Big Chemist's Retort Built for Movie Four feet in diameter and more than five feet high, what is believed to be the largest chemist’s retort ever made was fashioned from a new plastic material for use in a current motion-picture scene. In the film,...
- Rohm And Haas...national Historical Chemical Landmark
"The ACS established the chemical landmarks program fifteen years ago to acknowledge chemists' roles in expanding frontiers of knowledge, advancing medicine and industry, and creating products ranging from aspirin to zippers." I was not aware of...
- Dow Chemical's Greatest Acquisition--ever!
An update to the post regarding a near 50% increase in chemicals by the chemical industry...Dow Chemical will acquire Rohm & Haas to the tune of $15, 300, 000.00. Chemical industry raises prices "Dow Chemical Buying a Rival for $15.3 Billion" by...
- Chemical Industry Raises Prices
This two fold increase of 45% in two months through out the chemical industry will have a huge trickle down effect on every citizen on the globe. We are not privy to the ledgers of these companies but one wonders if this is an ethical and justifiable...