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Ralph Schenck Streamliner
Designed and scratch built by David Wheeler, Atascadero, CA
The car shown in the photos was both designed and built in its entirety by David Wheeler.
In addition to the two-piece, hand-formed sheet aluminum body, David fabricated the copper fuel tank and the machined aluminum front axle. The 2.5 cc twin-shaft diesel engine, fuel tank and front axle assembly are mounted on an aluminum plate sub-frame to which the pan is attached. Hornet Mite wheels and tires are mounted on all four corners.
The design of the car was inspired by the iconic Ralph Schenck streamliner, one of the first enclosed cars to compete on the dry lake beds in the Mohave Desert. Ralph Schenck built the chassis of his streamliner and powered it with a four cylinder 183 cubic inch Chevrolet block fitted with a 3-port Oldsmobile head, Ford Model B crankshaft and rods, a Hudson water pump, and a Winfield camshaft. The aluminum body panels were hand-formed by Joaquin Grosso.
Schenck's design of the streamliner body was loosely based on that of the "Golden Submarine" race car, built in 1917 by Harry Miller, and driven by Barney Oldfield as he barnstormed across the country.
The Schenck streamliner debuted at the May 19, 1940 SCTA meet at Harper Dry Lake where it ran 118.57 mph. Schenck raced the car for a number of years and his best time with the four cylinder Chevrolet engine was 126.89 mph. He also was alleged to have driven the car on the street during World War II, never bothering to install lights or a license plate. Schenck sold the car in 1945.
The car then passed through a succession of owners, was damaged in an accident, and the sheet aluminum body was discarded. Fortunately, the chassis and engine were spared. After years in storage, the chassis was recovered and the car was rebuilt with a new aluminum body.
In 2010, the fully restored Ralph Schenck streamliner was exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it created a mild sensation.
