1947 White Labatt's Streamliner

Its name is Streamliner. But, the curved lines of the tractor and trailer were designed more to attract attention than to break wind. The "rational" of this school concentrated on visual dynamics rather than aerodynamics.

And, the results were dynamic. Labatt is a brewery in Ontario, Canada, which, during the 1930s and 1940s, built several series of highly stylized delivery trucks, used to transport its product around Ontario-and gain some attention. In the late 1970s, Labatt decided that the large rolling billboards that worked so well as three-dimensional advertising during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s would work just as well in today's day and age to attract attention. The company met with Joe and Bob Scott of London, Ontario, and the project to find and restore one of the third Streamliners (built in 1947) was underway.

As early as the 1930s, laws regulating beer advertising were strict in Ontario. Breweries were not allowed to advertise in any dynamic way in print; radio was beginning to become an advertising force and television would also be blocked in the future. The breweries decided that one of the best ways to present themselves to the public was to build fleets of large, brightly colored, futuristic style trucks. It proved to be an effective way to get noticed.

This sparked a boom in the custom truck business in Ontario during the depression, as well as for the disappearing body customization business. Custom trucks were built in the same manner as custom cars; designs supplied for each customer were built on trucks and trailer chassis were supplied by the various manufacturers.

In the early 1930s, Labatt hired renowned designer Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky to design a fleet of trucks that would be different from production trucks. At that time, all the major highways passed through all the small towns, so they were sure the trucks would be seen in every community along their route, and they must, no doubt, have made a big impression on people as they drove around town.

With each series Sakhnoffsky achieved designs with more curvaceousness. The trailer boxes had a smaller volume than the regular "square" trailers, but this was no disadvantage as the real limit was the weight of the beer. Axle load limits (and for the time being trailers were limited to single axles) determined the load volumes, so even simplified trailers could carry the maximum allowable weight of beer.

Streamliners were built by Smith Bros. Motor Body of Toronto. The tractor cabs were built on White Cab-Over-Engine (COE) chassis. The cab structure was of wood, which was covered with hand-formed metal panels, usually aluminum. Fruehauf-custom trailer bodies were built in the same manner, and were clad in wood from floor to roof.

Labatt ordered 15 units at $30,000 each, but only 10 were built between 1946 and '48. Streamliners were in regular service until 1957, when they were taken off the road due to changes in Ontario trucking and advertising regulations that made them obsolete. The tractor-trailer rigs would now be allowed to have dual axles, so they could carry heavier loads. Also, due to changes in advertising regulations and the growing importance of television, Labatt had more places to place its advertising budget. The trucks were still painted with bright colors and graphics, but the styling was conventional. Also, by the late 1950s, bodybuilders with the skills in monkey work to build complicated shapes had all but disappeared.

Joe Scott was the White truck dealer in London, Ontario, and Labatt was one of his major customers. He purchased the Streamliners from Labatt when they were retired. Of course, by then dual axle trailers were the way to go, so the Special Single Axle Trailer were "put out to pasture." Most of them ended up on industrial estates, where they were used for storage or as crew shelters. The tractors were designed to couple exclusively with the simplified trailers, so their useful days were over. They were scrapped.

The cab is built on a White '47 COE chassis, model WA-122. The inline six-cylinder engine a, a Model 150A White Mustang. It has a displacement of 386 cubic centimeters with a 4-inch bore and 5.12-inch stroke and is rated at 135 hp with a governor that limits the engine to 3,000 rpm. The tractor has a single rear axle, and is rated for a maximum load of 36,000 pounds. The transmission is a Clark Model 501-B five-speed. The rear axle is a Model 33C White single-reduction type with a 6.67:1 ratio. The front axle is a Model 30D White. The tractor features an electric/hydraulic mechanism that tilts the cab forward to allow access to the driver-an exclusive on the White COE. The air brake system was made by Bendix Westinghouse, and has a chain-driven compressor. Tire size is 9.00 x 20 on all wheels. The trailer is a Fruehauf single axle low bed.

From any angle, this is an interesting design, but the teardrop shape is most evident from the side. The side windows and the arch at the rear of the cab roof emphasize the vertical abruptness of the front of the cab. In fact, the cab is probably more aerodynamic traveling in reverse.

The rounded teardrop trailer looks more aerodynamic, with its lines flowing smoothly down and low at the front. The roof arches to a high point in the center of the trailer, then gently tapers to the rear. The trailer wheel skirts and tractor rear axle add good looks to its sides. The overall effect of the design is one of movement, even when the Streamliner is stationary.