Norman Timbs Special 1947-1948

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Norman Timbs Special

An incredibly interesting and impressive car built by hand by a single man in the late 1940’s. The Designer and Builder was Norman Timbs, an engineer with experience in Racing Cars at Indianapolis, working on Tucker Automobiles and Designing Rims for Halibrand.

The primary inspiration for the Car was the Streamliner Version of the Auto Union Type D developed in Germany to test Aerodynamics prior to World War 2.

After designing the Car on Paper and with Clay models Tims moved onto building the frame out of Aircraft-Grade Chromoly Steel Tubes and then attaching a Ford Beam Axle for the Front Suspension and custom building a Swing Axle for the Rear attached to a centre Section.

The body was first created out of wood as a mock-up and then taken to Coach Builder Emil Diedt for assistance in forming it out of over 100 individual sheets of aluminium that were then welded together.

The Car has no Hood, Door or Truck openings due to the focus on Aerodynamics and so the only way to access the underpinnings is with a Button controlling a Hydraulic Strut located near the centre of the car.

Minor things like the Grille, Bumpers and mirrors were added alongside a set of Packard Headlights and Ford Taillights.

The engine was a modified 1947 Buick Straight-8 mounted in the middle and combined with a 3-Speed Manual Transmission.

After its creation it was used mainly for Press and Magazine purposed until in 1954 it was found in California being driven by an Air Force Officer from the area, in 1952 he had purchased the car and then gone through all the necessary paperwork to register it for Road Usage.

From there it laid pretty low allegedly being used a Children’s Slide at a Restaurant in LA before being found as a wreck in 2002 behind a Barn in Rural California.

Afterwards it was purchase from Barrett-Jackson Auctions by Car Collector Gary Cerveny (for $1.7m) who contacted Timb’s Son and managed to find an original Scrapbook of the design and build process from his father.

After a 7 Year-Long Restoration to its original Spec by Custom Auto in Colorado the car was unveiled at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Unfortunately in 2018 a Fire destroyed it and 75 other Cars at Gary Cerveny’s home but it is once again being restored from the ground up.

This is an absolutely beautiful car with a very rich history that I think would be a fantastic addition to the game.




5 Likes

You know what would make an awesome engine swap option for this thing? The DSC V12 from either the Auto Union Type D or M-B W154. That, and the engine from the Maserati 8CTF.

That and IMO, it would look awesome in a bright red paintjob or maybe silver.