Fageol Supersonic Home Page

The fabulous Fageol 'SuperSonic' used many aircraft parts (the Fageol Company made P-80 Jet Fighter parts during WWII). Super-Streamlined, it had no doors - entry into the cockpit was by pop-out step plates. Just push a button and the fighter plane type, electro-hydraulically controlled roof rolled back - then step up and into the 2 passenger cockpit. Made of Duraluminum with Torsalastic Suspension (the wheels leaned into a curve motorcycle style), much of the awesome dreamcar was modeled after wartime fighter planes. The fabulous Fageol 'SuperSonic' used many aircraft parts (the Fageol Company made P-80 Jet Fighter parts during WWII). Super-Streamlined, it had no doors - entry into the cockpit was by pop-out step plates. Just push a button and the fighter plane type, electro-hydraulically controlled roof rolled back - then step up and into the 2 passenger cockpit. Made of Duraluminum with Torsalastic Suspension (the wheels leaned into a curve motorcycle style), much of the awesome dreamcar was modeled after wartime fighter planes.

10 Years of Research reveals: The Story of the Fabulous 1938/49 FAGEOL 'SUPERSONIC' A Prototype 'Dream Car displayed at 1949 Indy '500' (featuring 4 famous Indianapolis '500' Racing personalities - Joel Thorne, Lou Fageol, Wilbur Shaw & Art Sparks) (photo here) The fabulous Fageol 'SuperSonic' used many aircraft parts (the Fageol Company made P-80 Jet Fighter parts during WWII). Super-Streamlined, it had no doors - entry into the cockpit was by pop-out step plates. Just push a button and the fighter plane type, electro-hydraulically controlled roof rolled back - then step up and into the 2 passenger cockpit. Made of Duraluminum with Torsalastic Suspension (the wheels leaned into a curve motorcycle style), much of the awesome dreamcar was modeled after wartime fighter planes. Would you like to join us as co-owners in this exciting restoration and exhibition venture? (Please see last page 'Future plans, Restoration & Exhibition'). (photo here) 'THE WORLDS BEST KNOWN AUTOMOBILE APPRAISERS' Robert DeMars Ltd Automobile Appraisers / Historians for 40 years California - Florida with Inspectors Worldwide 222 Lakeview Avenue Suite 160/256 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 Telephone 561-832-0171 FAX 561-738-5284 E-mail carapraisr@aol.com (photo here) Earliest photos of the awesome (and thought lost forever) 1938 Thorne Landspeed attempt RaceCar, built in the Thorne Engineering Racing Shop in Burbank, California prior to WWII. The streamlined Thorne Racer was intended by Joel Thorne (heir to Chase Manhattan Bank/Pullman Railroad Fortunes) as Americas Landspeed challenge to the headline making Mercedes 'Silver Arrow' & Auto Union Landspeed RaceCars. Designed and built by Thorne & Art Sparks, just before the U.S. entry into WWII, Lou Fageol would buy and turn this Art Deco beauty into the fabulous Fageol 'SuperSonic' (photo here) (photo here) Smooth and Streamlined to cut into the wind - the 'SuperSonic' an Art Deco DreamCar awes the crowds at Indy 1949. Note the Jet Hood Ornament mascot. Using many aircraft parts - the Fageol Company made components for the Lockheed P80 'Shooting Star' Jet Fighter during and after the WWII. May 1949. The 'SuperSonic'(as shown on a film) being test driven around the Indy track by legendary, 3 time Indy '500' Winner, Wilbur Shaw. (photo here) Tested at 135mph, Shaw averaged 93mph around the Brickyard oval - came close to upstaging '500' Winner Bill Holland in his 'Novi' for the headline news. (photo here) (photo here) (photo here) (photo here) (photo here) (photo here) (photo here) Joel Wolfe Thorne Jr. 1914 - 1955 (photo here) Heir to Chase Manhattan Bank & Pullman Railroad Fortunes -Daredevil RaceCar Owner/Builder/1946 Indy 500 Winner and Pilot (died in a Burbank, California take-off when his Plane crashed into an Apt Building). (photo here) (photo here) (photo here) Fageol Twin Coach 'Special' at the 1946 Indy '500'. (both Lou Fageol and Joel Thorne are show in this photo) The barely hidden secrets of 4 Wheel Drive from innovative Truck and Bus manufacturer/playboy Lou Fageol's bizarre, double-ender were its TWO Offenhauser engines. One 4 cylinder, 91 cubic Offy Midget-recer powerplant was connected to the rear wheel, while another identical Offy engine was carried conventionally in front and drove the front wheels. Both engines were Supercharged with Roots-type blowers and were connected together only by throttle linkage (which could be unsnapped to make the car drive from either end in an emergency). One of the fastest cars at Indy-diminutive driver Paul Russo astounded the skeptical Indy railbirds by qualifying 2nd, appearing on the front row for the inagural postwar '500'. Seems that Lou Fageol was on to what Audi would eventually prove to be the fastest and safest method of getting 'the power to the ground' when Lockheed 'P-80' aircraft inspired, finned RaceCar proved just fractionally slower than pole-winner Cliff Bergere's 'Wetteroth', in qualifying. Unfortunately the amzingly, finned Fageol RaceCar crashed hevily (driver Paul Russo suffered a broken leg) on the Northeast turn after 16 laps in to the race. Reason for the crash is not clear. Was it due to dueling with another RaceCar on the crowded field/Tires or (not being connected) due to the potential problems of having two engines respond unevenly to the drivers throttle commands? Note: The fin and other parts of this 4 Wheel Drive Faeol 'Twin Coach Special' were later used in building a wild and daring 2nd Fageol DreamCar-called the 'PatRay'. The historic 'PatRay' Convertible was driven to California by co-builder/engineer Ray Fageol (Lou's son) and put on display at 'Pebble Beach' in 1951.>

Would you like to join us as co-owners in this exciting restoration and exhibition venture?
(Please see last page 'Future plans, Restoration & Exhibition').

'THE WORLDS BEST KNOWN AUTOMOBILE APPRAISERS' 'THE WORLDS BEST KNOWN AUTOMOBILE APPRAISERS'

Robert DeMars Ltd
Automobile Appraisers / Historians for 30 years
California - Florida with Inspectors Worldwide

222 Lakeview Avenue
Suite 160/256
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Telephone 561-832-0171E-mail carapraisr@aol.com

Earliest photos of the awesome (and thought lost forever) 1938 Thorne Landspeed attempt RaceCar, built in the Thorne Engineering Racing Shop in Burbank, California prior to WWII. The streamlined Thorne Racer was intended by Joel Thorne (heir to Chase Manhattan Bank/Pullman Railroad Fortunes) as Americas Landspeed challenge to the headline making Mercedes 'Silver Arrow' & Auto Union Landspeed RaceCars. Designed and built by Thorne & Art Sparks, just before the U.S. entry into WWII, Lou Fageol would buy and turn this Art Deco beauty into the fabulous Fageol 'SuperSonic' Earliest photos of the awesome (and thought lost forever) 1938 Thorne Landspeed attempt RaceCar, built in the Thorne Engineering Racing Shop in Burbank, California prior to WWII. The streamlined Thorne Racer was intended by Joel Thorne (heir to Chase Manhattan Bank/Pullman Railroad Fortunes) as Americas Landspeed challenge to the headline making Mercedes 'Silver Arrow' & Auto Union Landspeed RaceCars. Designed and built by Thorne & Art Sparks, just before the U.S. entry into WWII, Lou Fageol would buy and turn this Art Deco beauty into the fabulous Fageol 'SuperSonic'

Smooth and Streamlined to cut into the wind - the 'SuperSonic' an Art Deco DreamCar awes the crowds at Indy 1949. Note the Jet Hood Ornament mascot. Using many aircraft parts - the Fageol Company made components for the Lockheed P80 'Shooting Star' Jet Fighter during and after the WWII.

May 1949. The 'SuperSonic'(as shown on a film) being test driven around the Indy track by legendary, 3 time Indy '500' Winner, Wilbur Shaw. Tested at 135mph, Shaw averaged 93mph around the Brickyard oval - came close to upstaging '500' Winner Bill Holland in his 'Novi' for the headline news.

Joel Wolfe Thorne Jr.
1914 - 1955

Heir to Chase Manhattan Bank & Pullman Railroad Fortunes -Daredevil RaceCar Owner/Builder/1946 Indy 500 Winner and Pilot (died in a Burbank, California take-off
when his Plane crashed into an Apt Building).

Fageol Twin Coach 'Special' Fageol Twin Coach 'Special'
at the 1946 Indy '500'.
(both Lou Fageol and Joel Thorne are show in this photo)

The barely hidden secrets of 4 Wheel Drive from innovative Truck and Bus manufacturer/playboy Lou Fageol's bizarre, double-ender were its TWO Offenhauser engines. One 4 cylinder, 91 cubic Offy Midget-recer powerplant was connected to the rear wheel, while another identical Offy engine was carried conventionally in front and drove the front wheels. Both engines were Supercharged with Roots-type blowers and were connected together only by throttle linkage (which could be unsnapped to make the car drive from either end in an emergency). One of the fastest cars at Indy-diminutive driver Paul Russo astounded the skeptical Indy railbirds by qualifying 2nd, appearing on the front row for the inagural postwar '500'. Seems that Lou Fageol was on to what Audi would eventually prove to be the fastest and safest method of getting 'the power to the ground' when Lockheed 'P-80' aircraft inspired, finned RaceCar proved just fractionally slower than pole-winner Cliff Bergere's 'Wetteroth', in qualifying. Unfortunately the amzingly, finned Fageol RaceCar crashed hevily (driver Paul Russo suffered a broken leg) on the Northeast turn after 16 laps in to the race. Reason for the crash is not clear. Was it due to dueling with another RaceCar on the crowded field/Tires or (not being connected) due to the potential problems of having two engines respond unevenly to the drivers throttle commands? Note: The fin and other parts of this 4 Wheel Drive Faeol 'Twin Coach Special' were later used in building a wild and daring 2nd Fageol DreamCar-called the 'PatRay'. The historic 'PatRay' Convertible was driven to California by co-builder/engineer Ray Fageol (Lou's son) and put on display at 'Pebble Beach' in 1951 (photos follow).