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Published: 2010-08-02 23:51:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 8800; Favourites: 125; Downloads: 0
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"Count Alexis De Sakhnoffsky (1901 - 1964) was a prominent industrial designer who had a long association with the White Motor Company. As an assignee for the company he was responsible for designing streamlined tankers based on conventional and coe trucks [6-8]. The design for the first generation of streamliners for John Labatt Limited was patented by de Sakhnoffsky in 1938 [9]. Apparently related to Labatt's streamliners were designs of a trailer patented in 1937 [11] and a tractor in 1938 [11]. However, Labatt's was not the only brewery that operated streamlined vehicles at that time [12].Four generations of streamliners were built for Labatt's [1,13]. These included semis and vans of similar design. All the designs were drawn by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. The streamliners were built by the Smith Brothers Motor Works of Toronto. The coachbuilder used Canadian-built White tractors and Canadian-built Fruehauf drop-frame trailers to construct the vehicles [1,13]. The bodies for the units were hand-built of aluminum sheets pined over the wooden frame of white oak and ash [1,13,14].
Labatt's initial order for the forth generation of streamliners was placed in 1941. Original plan included 15 units for Labatt's and one unit for Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, as a vehicle for transporting ponies. Manufacturing was however disturbed by World War II and the work resumed only in 1946. Eventually eleven units were built, ten for Labatt's and one for Princess Juliana [1].
The 1947 Labatt's streamliner was different its predecessors, the trailer was set lower and was rounded at the front and the rear, it also sported a decorative stainless steel dorsal fin. The tractor had a longer 121" wheelbase. The specifications of the streamliner are given in Table I. The vehicle was painted red with distinctive stripes and lettering in golden leaf; the two tone (red/dark blue) paintjob characteristic for the previous generations of streamliners was dropped [13].
Overall dimensions
Length - 36 ft., 10 in.
Wheelbase of unit - 28 ft., 5 in.
Wheelbase of tractor - 121 in.
Height - 9 ft., 8 in.
Width 8 ft., 5 in. Tractor
White Model W.A. 122
Engine - Super Power Model 140A
Displacement - 362 cu. in.
Transmission model 501B, 5 speeds ahead
Rear end ratio 29
Smith Bros. streamlined tilt cab
Air windshield wipers and horn (air)
Anti-jacknife equipment on fifth wheel Trailer
Overall length of semi - 28 ft.
Inside capacity of trailer - 825 cu. ft. (approx)
Fruehauf Drop Frame Chassis
Smith Bros. Custom Built body....."
source:Crane Larry. Streamlines. Automobile Magazine. 1999(July):122-126
Dorchester Rod and Custom Show
Dorchester Ontario July 25 2010
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Comments: 15
mawgly79 [2021-09-28 11:01:16 +0000 UTC]
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Taracena2017 [2020-05-17 16:28:11 +0000 UTC]
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bdmc [2013-06-27 18:18:15 +0000 UTC]
I remember (and have an old negative photo) of this at Expo 86 in Vancouver. Nice to see it's been looked after.
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Brutechieftan [2013-03-01 16:19:24 +0000 UTC]
The back of the cab could be used as a slide, just look at it.
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914four [2012-01-10 13:14:05 +0000 UTC]
Wow, very cool. I didn't know any of these were still around!
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DrAlexTGizmotiki [2011-10-26 06:01:07 +0000 UTC]
It may seem redundant, but this is one of the most awesome vehicles ever. It is the kind of phenomenon
that you I instantly stopped and took it in with complete astonishment. I imagine that this could happen to people that are not auto/truck freeks like me. Many thanks for exposing us to this.
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comet166 In reply to DrAlexTGizmotiki [2011-10-26 21:27:13 +0000 UTC]
very rare and fortunately based in a city very near to me
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cmdpirxII [2011-01-30 14:38:03 +0000 UTC]
Faved this truck a time ago ... did not have words for it !! Weird , funny , nice , unique a bit from all ... at last one of the most ineresting vehicles i saw ! Nice capture , thank you for sharing it !!
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High-Tech-Redneck [2010-08-09 02:32:21 +0000 UTC]
Thanks for the visit.
Very unique, I especially like the trailer! They sure built some cool looking stuff back then. Not like todays jellybean-mobiles.
Are there very many car shows in Canada?
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comet166 In reply to High-Tech-Redneck [2010-08-09 18:33:13 +0000 UTC]
Hey Justin, there are enough shows big and small to keep me going to one about every week end. We also have a week-long historical car show here each summer over 1000 cars. This is the last show I went to in our town [link] take care
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