Scarab
William B. Stout (1880-1956)
Rear engine V8
aluminum body
automobile
1936
Wm. B. Stout built the first cantilever wing plane, the first tri-motor, and was a technical advisor for Henry Ford. He spent most of his life trying to develop the 'Aerocar', a flying car for commercial use. But my favorite of all of his designs is the elegant Egyptian revival, Scarab Travelling Machine.
The Scarab is often considered the first production minivan. Stout wanted the Scarab to be an office on wheels, complete with fold out table and additional chairs. Other models included a fold out bed and even a cocktail bar. Nine to Eleven versions were built between 1934-1946. Additional styling by John Tjaarda, who developed the rear engine Tjaarda-Ford show car of 1933, that famously influenced F. Porsche on the design of the VW Beetle.
Steering wheel design
William Stout and his model Aerocar
Links
Photos of the 1936 model.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z913
Great Wikipedia Article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stout_Scar