User:Pyxelyz/1948 Buick Norman Timbs Special/Bibliography

INTRO

The Norman Timbs special stands out as an example of futuristic, forward-looking design to this day. Although it never itself achieved mass-market production success, it inspired a generation of automotive designers and engineers to push the limits of the manufacturing status quo, promoting a whole new way of designing and constructing automobiles.

STYLING

Making it’s first press appearance in Motor Trend’s second issue in 1949, Timb’s “Sport Custom” was a one-off even within its own class. Unlike other Sport Customs which rarely held tuned engines, adapted suspensions, light purpose-built chassis, or anything to qualify the “sport” tag, Timbs Special was almost entirely hand-built for this purpose, with only the base engine and Octane Magazin being purchased from a mass manufacturer. The engine in fact had been tuned to produce 200hp (and a speed in excess of 120 mph), far exceeding its stock power REF: Supercars

It also notably was bereft of doors, Timbs pointing out that it would cause a break in its sleek lines.

HISTORY

The Norman Timbs Special then had a busy few years, appearing in Buck Rogers (a science fiction series), a restaurant in California and other press spots, before being lost to the desert and finally rediscovered to be purchased by a film studio outfitter Octane Magazin. Despite being built at a cost of $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) by Timbs, it was sold to Gary Ceverny for $17,600.

The Norman Special then underwent a refurbishment at a Colorado repair shop, where the worksop manager described the process as “a killer job”, claiming extreme difficulty with the mechanics and troublesome details such as the paint job, which had to be colour-coordinated perfectly with just the right amount of gold flakes incorporated into the mixture. Fortunately, they had access thanks to Norman Timbs Jr. (the original designer’s son), to Timbs Sr.’s original sketchbook, along with the original cover of Motor Trend Magazine featuring the automobile in its intended state. After its renovation, the Timbs Special appeared at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours, winning the “best open car” RM auction trophy.

Fate

During the 2010 Malibu wildfires, the Norman Timbs special was lost along with the rest of collector Gary Cerveny's collection of 30+ vehicules.