1932 Bergholt Streamline

Sold for $82,500 at 2010 RM Auctions - Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey.
Fred Bergholt had a lifelong interest in mechanical devices. Along with his brother, he made his living in aeronautics during the 1920s, building gliders and airplanes. Not surprisingly, his automotive designs drew inspiration from his aeronautical passion. He was among the first to realize the future of streamlined and aerodynamic designs.

Bergholts place in automotive history may have been dramatic had it not been for the Pierce-Arrow company. Bergholt, though a visionary, had just completed his Streamline car, when Pierce-Arrow was unveiling their stunning Silver Arrow at the New York Auto Show in January of 1933. The Silver Arrow, with its sleek fastback styling, was a radical departure from tradition. Bergholts car was just as dramatic, if not even sleeker, matching the Silver Arrow curve for curve. It had sweeping fenders that were fully integrated into the body panels. One of the fenders was used to conceal a spare tire. In the front was a waterfall grille with a steeped rearward angle. Inside, the car had hand-fabricated coachwork. Under the elegant body was a 1932 Ford sedan chassis powered by Ford's new flathead V8.

Bergholt tried to sell the design to various carmakers but with no luck. The car was just too radical. Just a year later, Hans Ledwinka and Paul Jaray would be unveiling the Tatra T77, the first production car designed with wind tunnel development. Then in 1934, Chrysler introduced their controversial Airflow, and soon all memory of Bergholts efforts had been forgotten.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2019