‘World’s first Minivan’ for Concours of Elegance


This ‘car’ is so unique looking, we decided to share it with our readers, writes Trish Whelan.

This is billed as the world’s first production minivan, the art deco-inspired 1936 Stout Scarab. It will be on display at this year’s Concours of Elegance 2019 from 6-8 September at Hampton Court Palace.

Only nine were ever built and it is one of the rarest vehicles to be on display. It’s rumoured to have hosted a meeting between General Eisenhower and Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War. Throughout the 1950s, it was used by a circus owner, keeping monkeys in the car while they toured the continent. It was then sold on to a French industrial designer who had the vehicle placed in a museum in Reims. The current owners had it restored in 2001 and have kept it in top condition ever since. 

It was the brainchild of journalist and automotive & aviation engineer William Bushnell Stout. Unfortunately for him, the time-consuming coach-work and $5,000 price tag (almost $100,000 today) meant that the idea never gained the traction needed to become a success and the Scarab dream died after just nine were completed. 

The show is described as ‘an oasis of the rarest Ferraris, Bugattis, Rolls-Royces, Maseratis and more’. 

Photo credits -Michael Furman





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