This vintage flying car just crossed the auction block in Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. This 1954 Taylor Aerocar just crossed the auction block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. The vintage flying car just now made its way across stage without reserve, and it brought in $250,000. That doesn't include the 10% Buyer Premium which brought the grand total to $275,000. A car that can take to both the road and the skies by simply removing and attaching the flying equipment. Only five of these were built by Moulton Taylor, an aeronautical engineer.

With only 781 flight hours and 15,254 road miles, this Aerocar comes with full FAA certification. The sale of the car comes with an 8-foot trailer that tows and transports all necessary flying equipment such as the wings, propeller, and fuselage. To turn this two-seater car into a flying machine is said to take less than a half hour, and it ranges up to 300 miles and can cruise at about 100 miles per hour.

Powering the vehicles is a rear-mounted 320cui Lycoming H4 engine with an output of 150-horsepower. This ambidextrous car is shifted by a 3-speed manual transmission that sends power down to the front wheels. When in flight, the car then uses a Hartzell two-blade HA12 UF pusher propeller that can be found on the back of the tail.

This 1954 Taylor Aerocar offers the best of both worlds for somebody interested in the option of cruising around and/or soaring above the clouds
I remember reading about this car as a kid, it was exciting then and still is! Wish I had that kind of disposable income, I'd park it next to the SRT !

 

Very neat but I think I'll stick to the airlines!

 

Being that vintage I would not want to be the first to fly it. Great historical museum piece though.

 

I would not have any concerns about flying the Aerocar regardless of age. The Airworthiness certificate would be the deciding factor. Airworthiness is the measure of an aircraft's suitability for safe flight. Certification of airworthiness is conferred by a certificate of airworthiness from the state of aircraft registry national aviation authority, and is maintained by performing the required maintenance actions. The airworthiness certificate remains valid as long as the aircraft meets its approved type design, is in a condition for safe operation and maintenance, preventative maintenance, and alterations are performed in accordance with 14 CFR parts 21, 43, and 91. ie; annual or 100hr, depends on how you operate the aircraft. Most private aircraft use the annual requirement. Certainly aircraft logbooks would be reviewed and any write-ups cleared before flight, standard procedure for any aircraft regardless of age.

I would consider changing the wheels to magnesium for weight purposes [ American Racing mags] Being a purest however I would leave it alone and swap wheels only when taking it up for flight.

 

I believe this was the Bob Cummings' vehicle he championed and used on his TV shows.

 

WTS - YOU ARE CORRECT !

 

 

Robert Orville Cummings had aviation pioneer Orville Wright as his godfather. Wright reportedly taught him to fly.
His first pilot’s license was signed by Orville Wright who was first head of CAB, later FAA. Cummings became a licensed instructor and avid aviator.