Hewson Rocket- 1946



In early 1940, Rudy Stoessel, Paul Erdos, and Burt Chalmers opened a small body shop in Hollywood called Coachcraft, Ltd., and began building custom bodies for movie stars and wealthy locals.  In 1945, William Hewson raised capital to form the Hewson Pacific Corp., and planned to produce the “Hewson Rocket” and sell it for $1,000.  Stoessel fabricated the body shape and Erdos welded the aluminum panels together.  Hewson’s idea was to give the body form a very aerodynamic shape with no projections anywhere–headlights covered with glass, tail-light lenses flush, and no outside door handles.  As Hewson’s capital was depleted by the time the car’s body was finished, Coachcraft kept the car in their front showroom until  it was auctioned off in 1959 to a used car dealer in Minneapolis for $650.  Coachcraft survived until 1966.

Specifications:

Manufacturer:  Coachcraft, Ltd.
Country of Origin:  U.S.A.
Drivetrain Configuration: Mid-engine, rear wheel drive
Engine:  Ford flathead V-8, 85 hp
Transmission:  3 speed manual
Top Speed:  90 miles per hour
Year of Production:  1946
Number Produced:  1
Original Cost:  $16,000

A Note About the Display of Our Collection

Thank you for viewing our collection online! Please note that our collection contains over 330 cars and motorcycles though we only have room to display approximately 150 at a time. Therefore, the item you are viewing may not be on display when you visit the museum in person.

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