Dr Frankenstien gets his hands on a transit bus.

[madeouttaglass]

They have an example of a Curtiss trailer being pulled by a woody at the Glen Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport NY. He even patented a 5th wheel hitch using a car tire and rim to cushion the hitch connection between the car and trailer.
Looking forward to seeing what happens to your new truck.

[jdgretz]

Originally Posted by natedog39

That shot is taken in the parking lot at the Petersen Automotive Museum. An interesting bit of history. I'll get the details the next time I'm down there.

jdg

[madeouttaglass]

I hate to get so far off the original subject, but the roof lines of that truck look just like an upside down boat. I always thought that an old boat hull flipped like that would make for a good aerodynamic clamshell type bike hauler. I'm sure it would look quite hillbilly but it wouldn't create such a huge sucking vortex like most trailers do. Lower towing MPGs should be marginal.

[natedog39]

Originally Posted by madeouttaglass

I hate to get so far off the original subject, but the roof lines of that truck look just like an upside down boat. I always thought that an old boat hull flipped like that would make for a good aerodynamic clamshell type bike hauler. I'm sure it would look quite hillbilly but it wouldn't create such a huge sucking vortex like most trailers do. Lower towing MPGs should be marginal.

Which truck, the REO?

I've been fascinated with the Areocar ever since I first laid eyes on the photos so talk it up all you want.

[madeouttaglass]

Originally Posted by natedog39

Which truck, the REO?

I've been fascinated with the Areocar ever since I first laid eyes on the photos so talk it up all you want.

Yes, I meant the REO. I wish I could find the link to an older NASA study where they used a 70's era Econoline to try different body shapes. The shape of that REO is pretty much was what they came up with for the best truck aerodynamics.
That shape with a really rounded front would make the perfect trailer or truck shape. I bet towing a light one could even up the MPGs of a regular motorhome.
Thanks for encouraging the thread highjack. If anyone here could do something like that it would be you.

[broncobowsher]

Originally Posted by natedog39

I remeber a few details about that. The trailer has a helper engine to help push the rig over the hills. I have no idea how they ever got it to work in the day.

I saw it in the same place, Peterson in LA many years ago.

[PirateJohn]

"This ultra-streamline Reo tractor was specially built to tow a Curtiss Aerocar, on of the earliest production fifth-wheel trailers. Custom built for Dr. Hubert Eaton of the Forest Lawn Memorial Parks, its innovative cab-forward aluminium and leatherette body was constructed by Standard Carriage Works of Low Angeles, a coachbuilder that specialized in bodies for trucks and other commercial vehicles. It featured a large storage area, sleeping quarters for the driver, and a separate four-cylinder engine for auxiliary power. A Williams air-brake an dual rear-wheels accommodate the permanently attached 10,000 pound trailer. First equipped with a flat-12 White truck engine, the Reo tractor was fitted with a 300-horsepower Cummins 6-cylinder diesel in 1953 when the original engine wore out after more than 250,000 miles of use.

The luxurious and expensive Aerocar trailer was built by Curtiss of Coral Gables, Florida, a firm also known for motorcycles and pioneering aircraft. Nicknamed "Vagabond" by Dr. Eaton, it was outfitted for hunting excursions and to transport company executives on trips to inspect various real-estate holdings. Special features include a self-contained restroom and kitchen, comfortable seating for eight, cup holders, and an observation deck equipped with a speedometer, compass, and intercom for communication with the driver. Though currently set up for day travel, the interior can be modified to sleep up to six passengers. The dramatically styled rig was in regular use until retired by Forest Lawn Memorial Parks in 1991 – Peterson Automotive Museum."

[Patrick46]

WOW...it amazes me that they were still using such a rare and collectable vehicle up into the 90's!

[rthuey]

been web searching for some examples of the motorcycles from that company with no luck. has anyone else tried? curious what designs they had going on. plenty of plane examples.

[RichBeBe]

Originally Posted by rthuey

been web searching for some examples of the motorcycles from that company with no luck. has anyone else tried? curious what designs they had going on. plenty of plane examples.

Maybe there is a different Google in Battery Park than Queens but I googled Curtiss Motorcycles and got a 399,000 hits. Many being good ones.

[Cdaledude]

Originally Posted by RichBeBe

Maybe there is a different Google in Battery Park than Queens but I googled Curtiss Motorcycles and got a 399,000 hits. Many being good ones.

Glenn Curtiss was a very famous early aviator and contemporary of the wright brothers. They competed against each other for thus very first military aircraft. He was also famed for being a fearless daredevil on his motorcycles!

[SafetyThird]

Originally Posted by Patrick46

WOW...it amazes me that they were still using such a rare and collectable vehicle up into the 90's!

I'd rather see it wrapped around a tree in a year than parked forever.

Some things are meant to be used, and if I had it, I'd use it.

[madeouttaglass]

Originally Posted by rthuey

been web searching for some examples of the motorcycles from that company with no luck. has anyone else tried? curious what designs they had going on. plenty of plane examples.

Not the greatest website, but a fantastic museum. It's an hour from my place and I've gone there many times.
http://www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org/

[RichBeBe]

Originally Posted by Cdaledude

Glenn Curtiss was a very famous early aviator and contemporary of the wright brothers. They competed against each other for thus very first military aircraft. He was also famed for being a fearless daredevil on his motorcycles!

Yeah, I was busting Roy's balls.

[Rick G]

Originally Posted by rthuey

been web searching for some examples of the motorcycles from that company with no luck. has anyone else tried? curious what designs they had going on. plenty of plane examples.

If youare a fan of American Pickers on tv about a couple of guys who also happen to be motorcycle enthusiasts, who drive around the country looking for what they call "rusty gold" for their retail stores.

Anyway one episode featured a Curtis V twin engine that they had found from the early 1900's. They bought it for around 3 grand and had it appraisedat around 9 grand! And this was a rusty engine that hadn't run in probably 50 years.

This past summer I was at Wheels Through Time which has been featured on the show a couple of times. When there I struck up a conversation with Dale the owner, telling him I enjoyed seeing him on the show and asked if he bought that engine. He said, no, those guys got big money for it something like 15 grand, close to twice the appraised value.

It is amazing what people will pay for rusty gold.

Back to Dr. Frankenstien's ungodly creation.

Rick G