I bet you are looking at a Dymaxion (by B. Fuller)

wrote:

> Need help identifying photo of an actual car (from late 1920s - early
> '30s?), which looks something like a wing-less airplane -- extremely
> futuristic for the time and two-toned.
>
> It might have been associated with the introduction of Associated
> Aviation Ethyl gasoline. The big city (San Francisco?) gas station,
> where it is being filled, features clock-faced gasoline pumps topped
> with globes. The Flying A has bird-like wings, and gas is 14¢/ gallon.
> The gas is being pumped into this car through a nearly triangular
> flip-up opening that looks about a good 12 inches per side of
> 'triangle'- this flap is on same level as the windows of this bizarre
> car. The photo shows the car from the side, and it is almost a smooth
> arc in design, from front to back. The windows are three (separated)
> in front and four along the sides, if you count the flip up gas space
> as a "window". These 'windows' are rounded in the corners. It is hard
> to tell, but there may be an additional window arc cut into the roof
> above the central front window, giving more of a sense of a 'cockpit'
> look? There is one door, despite the long length of the car. It
> almost looks as if there is only one exterior hinge on the door. The
> front and back of the vehicle appear to be white and the white color
> frames the windows--this arc of white emphasizes the overall arc
> profile of the car. There is a single bent arc of a front metal
> bumper and there is a long strip of chrome(?) running from over frton
> wheel to over the back wheel. No logo or name visible on side of car.
> I can't see the back end of the car due to two men standing there.
> (One is my grandfather.) There are two flap like vents beneath the
> central front window. These small flaps are raised in the photo.
> Across the street is a Shell station with a 'normal'-looking 1920s
> car.
>
> Can anyone help with the ID of this car ?
> -- or the date when Associated Aviation Ethyl was introduced at Flying
> A stations?
>
> Thank you,
> Bonnie

--
Frank Scully
Beechhurst Inc.