"Phantom Automobiles" Postcard

7 Comments

1. steve iowaAugust 9, 2023 at 9:12 PM

   https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/06/beep-beep/489029/ according to this driverless cars in the 20's were called phantom autos..................
2. steve iowaAugust 9, 2023 at 9:13 PM

   https://definitions.uslegal.com/p/phantom-vehicle/ legal definition of a phantom auto?
3. steve iowaAugust 9, 2023 at 9:20 PM

   On reflection, these were the new "mystery" vehicles of the war. might be a name prior to usage of jeep. wonder what date of postcard is, that might give a clue. I forgot what some of the other early names of the jeep were.
4. Barney GoodwinAugust 10, 2023 at 12:49 PM

   steve iowa You could be right. At first glance it appears the driver's left hand in each Jeep rests on top of the steering wheel which I thought would deny your theory. But looking closer, this left hand is actually holding the stock of a rifle - in each Jeep
5. David EilersAugust 10, 2023 at 1:35 PM

   Steve, that's some good detective work; it seems plausible. It's also better than any theory I had (which was no theory).
6. Barney GoodwinAugust 10, 2023 at 2:51 PM

   I agree. Theory 2 makes more sense than Theory 1. Definitely early enough to be unnamed. Phantom, Peep, Scout Car, Jeep. I'm sure there's others.
7. Barney GoodwinAugust 10, 2023 at 2:58 PM

   Also posed with even the drivers holding the rifles at Port, arms.