GYRONAUT X-1:  World's Fastest Motorcycle
  • HOME/HISTORY
  • RESTORATION
  • SPONSORS
  • LIVE UPDATES
  • BIOGRAPHIES
    • ALEX TREMULIS
    • BOB LEPPAN
    • JIM BRUFLODT
  • EVENTS
  • GEAR STORE
  • CONTACT US

UPDATE: The Shelby-Gyronaut Connection - Vince Gardner

9/22/2012

3 Comments

 
As a followup to The Shelby-Gyronaut Connections: Cobra Engines and the First GT350 Rear Spoilers, some very strong connections to Vince Gardner have surfaced.  First, in looking closer at the man working on Tremulis' rear spoiler, there is little doubt that he is indeed the master craftsman, Vince Gardner:
Picture
Picture
Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, Gardner was responsible for some of the most superbly built custom cars to ever come out of the Detroit area.  Below are just four of his more noteable creations.  Clockwise from top left:  Gardner in his "Vince Gardner Special" built on a 1947 Studebaker platform won "Most Magnificent Custom Roadster" at the Oakland National Roadster Show in 1950;  Vince Gardner with Walt Woron and Ford's Bill Wagner with a model of Gardner's Anglia which won Motor Trend's design contest in 1950, funded by Henry Ford II, the Gardner Vega inspired the development of the Thunderbird;  Gardner's two-seater shortened Mustang Fastback concept built at Dearborn Steel Tubing where Gardner worked; and Gardner's modified T'Bird, the "Italien", built in 1963 while he was at Dearborn Steel Tubing.  Some of the best customs  anywhere!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Another newly-found photo from the earlier series of photos places the red Mustang, Tremulis' white 2+2, and an unidentified custom car in front of what must be Vince Gardner's home/workshop.


Below, a closeup of the cars shows a distinctive rear window treatment to the third car.

Any ideas as to which custom this might be?

Picture
Then there's the following rendering from Alex Tremulis for a Mustang-based "Coupe De Elegance" by Gardner and Tremulis.  It appears that Gardner and Tremulis were planning for a series of hardtop designs for Ford's pony car.  The Concours, Biarritz, Monaco and Landau were probably created to attempt to move the Mustang into a little higher price bracket by entering into the luxury car market.  It's interesting that Gardner was also looking into the fastback designs as shown by his two-seater above.  The illustration is undated so the order in which Gardner and Tremulis intended to build these coupes is speculation at this point, but along with the spoiler and the modified front end of the Mustang, it looks like the two designers were setting their sights squarely on improvements and accessories for the Mustang. 
Picture
Two new photographs from Alex Tremulis' files now make sense.  Surely these must be the top that Gardner and Tremulis built for the convertible Mustang:
Picture
Picture
Picture
It is pretty clear, though, that the Gyronaut's Shelby engine was delivered to Dearborn Steel Tubing where Vince Gardner built several of his Customs.  And shortly after this engine was received, Gardner went to work building the fiberglass body for the Gyronaut that was completed by July of 1964.  So another avenue for the Tremulis/Gardner spoiler getting back to Carroll Shelby may also have been through Vince Gardner through his association with Dearborn Steel Tubing.  Yet another area to search for further documentation...

Picture
July, 1964 (left to right):  Vince Gardner, Alex Tremulis and Bob Mattson working the clay body of the Gyronaut.  With only a few weeks to go until Speed Week, it's no wonder that the Bonneville runs would wait until the following year.

Picture
The completed Gyronaut tail end with its first gold paint job in mid-1964.  Credit went to Vince Gardner and Robert "Bob" Mattson.  In the first photo above, there is a young man in the background.  Could it be possible that it's Bob Mattson working with Gardner on the spoiler as well? 

Stay updated, as more historical pieces to this puzzle fit together.  Be sure to "LIKE" the Gyronaut's Facebook page to get the latest...

Photo credits in the order of their appearance:  Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Newsletter, 1973; Kustorama; Hemmings Motor News; Collectible Automobile; Barrett-Jackson Auctions.  All others, copyright The Alex Tremulis Archives.
3 Comments
Wolfgang link
9/23/2012 06:56:24 am

Very interesting. Will send you what I have on that 2-seater and Vince. My friend Mark Gustavson writes a book about these DST cars. More later.

Reply
Steve Tremulis link
9/23/2012 08:36:31 am

THANKS! I wouldn't be surprised to see Jim Gaylord's name pop up in connection with those cars either. The license plates on the red Mustang are dealer plates...

Reply
Jon VanDyk
10/7/2016 09:54:33 pm

The third mystery custom isn't a custom at all, It's a stock 1960 Mercury hardtop.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

     

     

    Gyronaut X-1 
    LIVE Updates...

    For notifications on new posts, click "LIKE" on the Gyronaut's Facebook page, All "LIKEs" are immediately notified as they post...

    Picture

    Home of the Gyronaut restoration:
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2017
    January 2015
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    July 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed