- A car created to showcase aluminum’s corrosion resistance in the 1950s is heading to auction.
- The one-off Scimitar All-Purpose Sedan was built around a 1959 Chrysler New Yorker chassis.
- It was styled by legendary mid-century American designer Brooks Stevens of Wagoneer fame.
Back in the 1950s, rust was practically a factory option, and in some states it came standard. American roads were awash with salt in winter, steel-bodied cars dissolved at alarming rates, and one company thought it had the answer. This bizarre Chrysler-based concept wagon was built to convince the world that aluminum could save motorists from the tinworm years before its use became commonplace.
Known as the Scimitar EX All-Purpose Sedan, this one-off creation is heading to auction through Bonhams, and it’s one of those vehicles that gets stranger the longer you look at it. Part station wagon, part concept car, part rolling science experiment, it was created in 1959 as a showcase for aluminum’s potential in automotive design.
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The project began when Olin Corporation wanted to promote its aluminum operations and demonstrate the material’s advantages over conventional steel. To make that case, it enlisted legendary industrial designer Brooks Stevens, whose resume includes everything from the original Jeep Wagoneer to the faux-SSK Excaliber, and plenty of non-car products, too.
Bonhams
Stevens came up with three Scimitar concepts, each with a different body type. The trio comprised the All-Purpose Sedan seen here, a two-door Hardtop Convertible, and a four-door Town Car Phaeton, all built with mixed-material construction that used aluminum in the areas most vulnerable to corrosion.
The idea wasn’t just to display them under bright show lights. These cars were fully functional and intended to demonstrate the benefits of lighter weight and improved durability.
Chrysler New Yorker DNA
For the mechanical bits, Stevens turned to Chrysler. Underneath sits a 1959 New Yorker chassis powered by a mighty 413 cubic-inch (6.8-liter) V8 producing 350 hp (355 PS). A push-button TorqueFlite automatic transmission handles shifting duties, while power steering, power brakes, power windows, and a bench seat ensured occupants could cruise in comfort.
Bonhams
The bodywork was entrusted to Germany’s Karosseriewerk Reutter, the company best known for building Porsche 356 bodies and later helping develop the earliest 911 prototypes. The quality of the craftsmanship still shines through more than six decades later, even if the finish is now a little worn with age.
What really sets the All-Purpose Sedan apart is its rear section. The extended cargo area features a retractable roof panel that transforms the wagon into something resembling a pickup truck, a beach cruiser, and a luxury family hauler all at once.
Bonhams estimates it’ll go for $125,000 – US$175,000 at auction later this month. You can find the full listing here.
