1941 Chrysler Thunderstrike

The inspiration for this concept was from the Alex Tremulis designed 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt. Most of you know Alex from his Tucker career after WWII and inevitably the movie theater. He was truly an interesting character and held numerous industrial design positions with Cord, Duesenberg, Briggs-Le Baron (where he did the Thunderbolt concept for Chrysler), General Motors, Tucker and Ford before doing his own consulting gig in his final years — and of course some landspeed racing vehicles. What was innovative about the Thunderbolt project was the lack of door handles — he used a push button instead. The windows were hydraulic. And the headlights were concealed. And his design itself was definitely futuristic. Remember this concept was built and debuted in 1941. (and there were six built originally and I still remember one going across the grass at Pebble Beach many years ago at the concours d’elegance)

My version called Thunderstrike: I retained the design language and futuristic appeal (from 1941) of Alex’s concept but put it on a different chassis with a wheelbase of 86-inches and proportioned as if a mid-fifties era 2-seat Ford Thunderbird. (and as part of my Concept GT Americana series)

Imagine building this today on a relatively affordable 50’s era donor Chrysler chassis that has been shortened and with a 392 Fire Power “HEMI” from a Chrysler 300C installed. Bodywork could be custom shaped aluminum. There isn’t that much trim or ornamentation to create aside from the corrugated stainless lower panel area. Best thing is that it would generate conversation wherever it went and it would be timeless… even still after 78 years.