The Girl With the Crocodile Car

Whe' u headin'?

This early precursor to the hardtop has a fixed roof like a closed-body car but with the sides open and unobstructed like a touring car. The result is somewhat sportier than the typical closed car of the time while avoiding many of the inevitable rattles and squeaks that touring cars were prone to. If Studebaker and some of the other players who were experimenting with this body style at the time had splurged on roll-up windows, it might have taken off like the "hardtop convertible" did in the late 1940s.

Amazingly identical in their skin patterns ... so much so that it must be a faux skin product... just in such large expanses, the deception is unmasked as a small thing like a purse of satchel would not make the repeat so obvious.

["Must be"? Read the comments below. - Dave]

I am sure Crocs are still on the endangered list. I don't know if they were then, but no matter, it is obviously a paint job. However with that smile she can wear or drive whatever she pleases.

[Not paint. See below. - Dave]

In addition to the reptilian body, Birmingham cars were unique in the use of a swing axle which they advertised as "No-Axle".

The Birmingham Motors demonstrated to about 15,000 people of Washington Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the ability of their cars to withstand the most severe rough road tests ever seen here. The cars went over roads built of logs from 4 to 8 inches in height at from 15 to 35 miles per hour. This feat did not seem to affect their cars, although the sedan has traveled over similar tests more than 14,000 miles.

Birmingham Motors offers an attractive challenge of $5,000 for any make of car to follow the Birmingham over the roads which they will construct.

All of the three models are exceptionally attractive, finished with Dupont Fabrikold Fabrikoid in place of paint. The company is now ready to start quantity production in their first plant at Falconer, N.Y., and will start delivering cars in this city in the near future.

[Fascinating as usual. I wonder if that should be "Fabrikoid." - Dave]

Some history on the short rise and fall of Birmingham Motors. Only about 50 cars were ever built: none are believed to have survived.

Why does the sky look like my living room wallpaper?

[Why does your living room wallpaper look like the sky? - Dave]

Just imagine a young woman with a reptilian body winning a beauty pageant today - simply wouldn't happen.