 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
1955 Flajole Forerunner Prototype news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  | Coupe Chassis Num: S673772 Engine Num: W7884-8S |
| Sold for $188,500 at 2009 Bonhams. Sold for $200,000 at 2012 Barrett-Jackson. | |||
In 1939, Flajole established his own shop with John Kehrig. Kehrig was a skilled fabricator who had worked with Frank Spring at Hudson.
The Flajole-Kehrig Company was a design-build shop that undertook subcontract projects for Chrysler, Ford, GM, Nash and Murray. Their list of projects included the Nash NXI prototype, which was a two-seat sportster based on a Fiat 500 Topolino. The NXI concept led to the Nash Metropolitan, which would be influential in design of the Forerunner Prototype.
When World War II came to a close, Bill Flajole established an independent design consultancy. The company designed a variety of designs focusing on functional objects in streamlined forms including toys, packaging, boats, appliances and even homes. The company also made contributions to the automobile industry.
In 1953, Flajole purchased a second XK120 fitted with the M speciation. The car had the performance cams, dual exhausts, and a 180 horsepower 3.4-liter engine. The car would later become the basis for his own futuristic two-seat sports car.
A full size clay model was created with tall fenders, dropped hood, wide grille integrated with bumpers and an retractable roof that slid down to hide under a sloping fastback rear deck. The prototype car was given a Fiberglas body.
The work was completed in 1955 and featured a translucent Plexiglas roof panel and recessed cove panels behind the wheels. This marked the first time a car used coves, before Chevrolet applied them to 1956 and subsequent Corvettes.
The car received attention from Motor Trend, Road & Track and Sports Car Illustrated. It was later used by Flajole for personal transportation until the early 170s. Since then, the car has been given a show quality restoration. It is painted in metallic purple with white coves. Inside, there is matching white/purple leather upholstery.
The car was later owned by Jeff and Sara Tamayo who donated it to the Blackhawk Automotive Museum. In 1998 it was acquired by Sidney Craig.
In 2009, this historically important vehicle was offered for sale by Bonhams Auction at the Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club in Carmel, CA. It was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot was sold for the sum of $188,500 inclusive of Buyer's Premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2009
| STENHOUSE FINISHES THIRD IN PHOENIX | |
| Ford Finishing Order: 3rd – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 7th – Michael Annett 21st – Paulie Harraka 30th – Dexter Stacey 32nd – Noel Dowler 34th – Kevin Lepage 41st – Carl Long RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – No. 6 Valvoline NextGen Ford Mustang – WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU DROVE BY AND SAW THE 2 CAR AGAINST THE WALL? 'I didn't really think anything. I just kept doing what we were doing all day. We worked really hard. Mike made some good calls – changing four there, stay...[Read more...] | |
| Classic Motorcar Auctions' Grande Salon Event Tops $1.7 Million | |
 | Classic Motorcar Auctions LLC announces total sales for their 3rd annual Grande Salon Auction reached $1.7 million, including buyer's premium. The two-day auction, which was held Sept. 15-16, 2012 during the Glenmoor Gathering event at the historic Glenmoor Country Club in Canton, Ohio, had a 51% sell-through rate. The auction's high sale was a beautifully restored 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton at $150,000, followed by the 1912 Ford Model T prototype six cylinder Speedster once belong...[Read more...] |
| Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion : Cobras Take It To The Limit | |
| Today was the day everyone was waiting for, or at least the 30 or so thousand people flocking to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion were waiting for it: the chance to see 45 competition Shelby Cobras charging around California's famously challenging 2.238-mile road course known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The Cobras are part of the Reunion's celebration of the Shelby Cobra's 50thAnniversary, and besides those signed up for racing, there were hundreds more in the paddock, surrounding corr...[Read more...] | |
| Classic Motorcar Holds Grande Salon Auction During Glenmoor Gathering | |
 | 1912 Edsel Ford Model T Six Cylinder Speedster to Cross the Block CANTON, Ohio - Classic Motorcar Auctions LLC will hold their 3rd annual Grande Salon Auction Sept. 15-16, 2012 during the Glenmoor Gathering event at the historic Glenmoor Country Club in Canton, Ohio. The Grande Salon Auction will feature more than 150 antique, classic and sports cars as well as various automotive memorabilia up for bid. Vehicles will be available for preview on Friday, Sept. 14 from 1-8 p.m. The a...[Read more...] |
| Lost Mercedes - Surfaces At Bonhams | |
 | One owner, unrestored, supercharged 'S' Type Mercedes to be sold by Bonhams at Goodwood Revival this autumn One of the greatest and most important motor car finds of the last decade, the 'Lost Mercedes' is to be offered at Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale on Saturday 15th September 2012. Bonhams announced today that it has been commissioned to sell a recently discovered 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 'S' Type Sports Tourer which almost without precedent for motor cars of this type and d...[Read more...] |
| Flajole: 1951-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Flajole |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| Bonhams - Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club |
