Talk about neat! In this 1939 photo we see a guy named Robert Preston pouring what we assume is fuel into his home built car. According to what we were able to dig up, this little baby had a washing machine engine, could run around at 20-25mph and was actually registered and tagged by the state! Nowadays Preston would probably be tagged as some sort of delinquent for coming up with such an idea and actually having the gumption to build it!
Now that you know the real story behind the little car, we need a good caption for this photo. Put a little imaginary thought bubble above Preston’s head and fill it with what is going through his mind while fueling his little creation. Also take a good look at the car. To us, it appears that the frame is made of wood and the brakes are a couple of wooden pucks that press up on the little back tires on the machine to stop it. Simplistic and Bangshifty, indeed!
Being that this was ’39 and Preston was a high school senior, he probably went off to fight in WWII a couple years after this photo was taken. We sure hope if that happened he made it through and is still around today.
Does anyone know a Robert Preston from the Washington D.C. area circa the late 1930s or eraly 1940s? It would be cool to find out if his hot roddy bone stayed active as he went through life. Hell, if he built this thing he must have been a gearhead to the core!
CAPTION THIS PHOTO!
Here at GE, we bring good things to life. Like the Gatling minigun, and go carts powered by our latest and greatest Washing machine engines. LPG {Loads per gallon} is average at 3-5.
“Someday India will adopt this technology”
Marty when this thing hits 88 mph look out!!!
Brian, how long were you on the sight? I can spend hours and not see the same thing.
Mike, believe it or not, I haven’t hit Shorpy yet. These photos are from the Library of Congress and their digital archive.
This photo is also on Shorpy.com.
I like this one too:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/1527?size=_original
wonder what is there today?
Hmmmm….. Wonder what this can labeled “Hydrazine” is? Smells like it will burn….
When this baby hits the spin cycle you’re gong to see some serious shit.
Here’s a few more off the top of my head:
I’ll show those moonshine boys down south how it’s done.
I’m never going to lose another Soap Box Derby again–hoo hah ahhh
I can see the headlines now “Souped-Up Soap Rods Clean Up at Whirlpool 500” or
“Robert Preston and the Kenmore Special–Land Speed Washing’s Newest Golden Boy”
If I can do this with a washing machine, just think what I can do when I get my hands on an ice box.
I think I’ll call it the Maytag Mustang.
If I win tomorrow I’m sure to get that Amana sponsorship.
This tin can is so uptown they’ll still be writing about it in 70 years.
Let’s see. The label was spelled N-I-T-R-O. Sounds like this will help get it down the road!
Ward, the Beaver said Wally took his bed frame.
By the time 1941 came around with gas rations.. the guy will be considered a genius!
there’s a strong following for those old maytag engines. Dad was telling me about gas powered washers back when, and I had a hell of a time envisioning it. Thank you internet!