Alex Tremulis and 39 60 Special for Eleanor Powell

[Quentin Hall]

      Firstly, I apologise if I am overusing the forum of late. But as I am working away from home for a couple of weeks and with no distractions I can devote all spare time to surfing the net and looking at Cadillac stuff on the net. LUXURY!
      So I am keen to discover any more info on the Tremulis ( Duesenburg, Tucker , 41 Thunderbolt et al fame) 39 Sixty Special (chopped coupe) built for Eleanor Powell  and also anything else on Custom Motors Inc that she created to service the Hollwood celebrity custom car culture in Calif.
        It appears that the car was totalled in an accident involving Sid Luft en route to San Fran .  A second car a series 61 conv was built and this survived at least till the 70s and was at one time owned by Roy Schnieder, whom most of us should be familiar with. 
Interesting reading attached.
     
http://www.gyronautx1.com/1/post/2013/01/1939-custom-motors-by-eleanor-powell-styling-by-alex-tremulis.html

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Q,
Maybe they made my car? I wish I knew more about the company.
Bob               

[Quentin Hall]

Oh Bob,
     You made my day with that pic . WowWeeee. That is sensational. I have been researching the late thirties/ early forties custom scene a bit and the Cadillacs that were done and I have to say that yours is one of my favourites yet. That roof line is spot on of the period. Whoever did it nailed it. The laid back screen and the chopped roof are perfect. I am going to have to try and work out just how much they have taken out and where. 
        I have a 39 Sixty Special that I am throwing "custom" ideas around on presently and in a few months time I'll know which ones stick. I have been leaning towards a combination of Coachcraft, and Bohman and Schwartz and a maybe bit of Brunn. I am thinking of a removable hardtop.
        I came across this 1941 Don Lee car that belonged to Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. It seems to have a very similar roof treatment to your 41. Q

[gyronaut]

Here's the Cadillac customized for Eleanor Powell with Alex Tremulis beside it.  It was then sold to Bill Burlingame of National Cash Register, and then eventually to Roy Schneider.  Roy thought it was built by Briggs (I think) at the time he sold it, so I don't think it's actual history has caught up to the car yet, but surely it wouldn't have been scrapped.  Has anyone seen anything that might help trace its whereabouts?

There were quite a few other customs done by Tremulis at Custom Motors, but none of them have turned up either...

Thanks in advance!

Steve Tremulis

[N Kahn]

I absolutely love early customs.

[Quentin Hall]

Well G'day Steve,
           It is very nice to see your reply and obvious close association with my request for info on the Tremulis Cadillac 39 Sixty Special . I take it you are related. The photo you provided is definately a Sixty special ( which was a breakthough Bill Mitchell design) that has been converted from a four door to a two door coupe. The Roy Schnieder car was always a convertible. So definately two different cars.
      There is no doubt about Alex Tremulis' impact in the automotive world but it is funny how 6 degrees of separation can fall away to one or two. I was intrigued to read about your Gyronaut restoration plans. I live in Brisbane Australia and a  friend of mine, Martyn Donaldson, who used to work alongside me, is now a Tucker restoration expert in Calif.  We are  both car nuts and were always talking about Tuckers  and Cords and dreaming back then,  in fact I even named my son Preston. I was reading your webpage and my son now 12, looked over my shoulder at the Gyron and couldn't believe how futuristic it is. I said it was designed and built before "I" was born and he couldn't believe it.
        It might be worth talking to Martyn to see if he has any specialist skills to offer on the Gyronaut. I know I'd jump at the chance to help if I wasn't a world away. 
        I recently got a 39 Sixty special parts car and am considering building a period custom and ironically my initial ideas were heavily influenced by the Cord and Thunderbolt prior to knowing Alex's involvement with  Custom Motors. I went to the ACD museum in 92 and stood in the room where the Cord was designed so hopefully a bit of Alex's spirit rubbed off on me there.  Regards. Q

[N Kahn]

The stuff you know, Quentin and the way you tell us it quite enthralling, keep typing, I'm reading.

[gyronaut]

Quentin, 

Thanks for your reply and clarification.  So do you think this is the same car?



Yes, Alex was my Uncle.  I'm trying to piece together and ID all the cars Alex was involved with.  He left lots of photos and clues, but they were all jumbled together.  Towards the end of his life he lost most of his vision, but still absolutely loved to look through his stuff.  Consequently, there are Subaru items mixed in with Duesenberg items and everything in between.  It's the best project ever!  Your comments help sort through the facts from speculation, thank you.

I haven't yet spoken to MD.  I know he knew Alex.  One of the Tuckers MD restored is headed to the Amelia Island auction this weekend.  It should sell very well due to his exquisite work on the car.

Alex would have been 100 next year, so I'm thinking a show that would include his Duesenbergs, 812SC Cord, Thunderbolt, and Tucker and beside them the Kaiser-Frazer Allstate, American Bantam, and Subaru Brat would be a good start to an all-Tremulis exhibit.  Big and small, most expensive and least expensive, but all still Alex...

Steve Tremulis

[Quentin Hall]

G'day Steve, Just running out the door to get kids to school, but yes these are two 39 models but different cars. I will try to explain the differences from stock ( that I can see) of both when I get a spare moment. Great that you are wanting to organise a celebration of Alex's achievements. He deserves it.   Regards. Q   

[N Kahn]

Wow Steve, your uncle was an outstanding designer, it's an honor to have you here, I'll see that Tucker this weekend.

[Quentin Hall]

https://silodrome.com/1933-chevrolet-alex-tremulis-custom-car/