BEVERAGE ICE CHEST

The American attempt at an air-cooled "people's" car failed, despite the car having a unique aerodynamic design that set it apart from most other cars.

Even though it achieved nearly 44 mpg, the futuristic model didn't captivate
Americans ~ nor the important financial backers that could have provided capital to launch this prototype into mass production.

"Following the closure of the Franklin Automobile Co. in 1934, former Franklin engineers Carl Doman and Edward Marks organized their own firm to develop a new air-cooled engine design," according to the National Automobile Museum.

"Paul Lewis of Denver, Colo., conceived the idea for this futuristic automobile in the early 1930s, and in 1936, contracted with Doman and Marks to build a prototype.

"Working from an aerodynamically styled model created by John Tjaarda, a designer of the Lincoln-Zephyr, construction began on the unusual three-wheeled front-
wheel-drive Airomobile and it was pronounced road-ready in April 1937."

The National Car Museum's Airomobile prototype was driven more than 45,000 miles through the United States in an effort to raise production capital.

"While the Airomobile proved itself a technical success by performing creditably at speeds of up to 80 mph and averaging 43.6 mph of fuel, financial backing was not
forthcoming.

"Although intended as a low-cost mass-produced people's car, this was the only Airomobile produced."

MODEL
1937 Airomobile, experimental sedan

BUILT BY
Lewis American Airways Inc.
Rochester, N.Y.

PRICE
$550 (projected)

ENGINE
Doman-Marks
air-cooled OHV
horizontally opposed
4-cylinder, 60 hp.

BORE
3 1/2 inch

STROKE
3 1/2 inch

DISPLACEMENT
129.9 cubic inch

2010 Inaugural Stohlman VW Enthusiaist Event. Beyond the giant Arch way of balloons, Stohlman VW of Tysons held a top notch party and car show for all VW owners alike. Free give aways, free food, free ipads and just a good old time is how we do it at Stohlman VW of Tysons 703-893-2990.

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