"SPEED" with James Stewart 1936

[Vinsky]

Anyone know the details of the car Stewart drove at Bonneville in 1936 in the classic movie "Speed". I watched it for the first time, what a riot. Can't imagine a crowd standing so close to a speeding car you could almost touch it. Some of the scenes were in the Chevy plant, stamping fenders and drilling the engine block. Stewart was explaining to the girl how things worked and actually sounded like a real gearhead, unlike some modern actors.

[salt27]

Emery Falcon

[streamliner]

That's the same question that Alex Tremulis wanted to know back in the early 1970's.  There have been a few articles written about it's history, but it seems it was in reality just a movie prop based on a Cord front-wheel-drive L-29.  Google: "thunderbowl comet" or "golden eagle speed comet" and you'll find your answers.

It still exists and is currently being restored.

Here's some shots from when Tremulis went to check it out.  He's wearing the Triumph Gyronaut crew jacket that memorialized Bob Leppan's successful 245.667mph run in 1966...