The 1935 Stout Scarab is considered by many to be the world’s first minivan. It was designed by William Bushnell Stout, a pioneering American inventor and engineer who revolutionized the automotive and aviation fields. The first prototype for this minivan was completed in 1932, and by 1935, the car was fully functional.
Despite getting much press coverage and attention, it had a $5,000 price tag, which was about five times the price of your average car. The vehicles were slowly sold over time, and each was handmade, which meant that no two Scarabs were identical. There are only five remaining Scarabs today, with one being housed in The Detroit Historical Museum.
Lincoln-Zephyr
The Zephyr was one of Lincoln's lower-priced midsize car models sold from 1936 to 1942. It was released as a competitor to Ford's V-8 De Luxe and managed to give it quite a fight. It served a similar purpose to Cadillac's LaSalle model and was meant to accompany some of their more expensive models. The car was created by Edsel Bryant Ford and featured a V-12 engine that was revolutionary at its time.
One of the Zephyr’s key components was its aerodynamic quality, which was referenced in the car’s name. It was initially created as a response to complaints of the automaker’s cars being too air-resistant. Once the series began to die down and Lincoln was looking to replace the Zephyr, the automaker came up with the Lincoln Continental, which ended up becoming its longest-running model.
1935 Bugatti Aerolithe
The 1935 Bugatti Aerolithe was an absolute masterpiece when it came to its design. It was created by Jean Bugatti, a French automotive designer and engineer who was part of the company's founding family. The Aerolithe’s name was based on the French word for a meteorite and was meant to symbolize the popular phrase “Rapide comes one aerolite,” which meant “Fast as a meteorite.”
The car was first shown at the Paris International Motor Show but failed to garner much attention and interest from potential clients. Only four of these were ever made, but replicas of the car have been made to preserve its legacy. Famous late-night show host Jay Leno actually owns a 1934 Aerolithe and considers it one of his most beloved possessions.
Bendix SWC
As far as concept cars go, the 1934 Bendix SWC was truly the first of its kind. Designed by Alfred Ney of the Bendix Corporation, located in South Bend, Indiana, was truly a work of art. Despite being a concept car, it featured various technological leaps that were way ahead of its time. Only one SWC was ever made, but the engineering behind it was a prediction for much of what came in later decades.
The Bendix SWC had many of the features that you know and love today, such as a front-wheel drive, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, a four-wheel independent suspension, and more. The main reason behind its lack of commercial production was Bendix’s falling stock, which was partly due to its CEO’s negligent, irresponsible, and over-indulgent behavior.
1948 Talbot-Lago 26 Grand Sport
Talbot-Lago had various difficulties staying profitable during the ‘40s. In 1948, they attempted a Hail Mary with the Talbot-Lago 26 Grand Sport. The car produced 170 horsepower and got much love and attention for its performance. It was eventually adapted to provide 195 horsepower and reached a top speed of 124 miles per hour. Twelve of these were made, and they went on to win the Le Mans 24-Hour Grand Prix Race in 1950.
This successful move got Talbot-Lago afloat again, but it found itself in financial difficulties again just a few years later. The French company tried focusing on sports vehicles but had to close its doors for good in 1959. Sadly, the company’s founder passed away just a year later in 1960. Despite his company's eventual failure, the 1948 Talbot-Lago 26 Grand Sport will always be his true legacy.