Ralston Rhino Mk I Type 8R-32 (1932) Coupe Triple Axle
The Ralston Company's automotive roots stretch right back to the 1910's, but it wasn't until the late 1920's that the low-volume products offered really shone.
Like all luxury automotive companies, however, the Wall Street Crash and ensuing Great Depression upset the grand plans that they had put into place. Prior to WWII the Ralston Group was still based in Finland, where the assembly of it's cars took place. Many of the systems, however, were sourced from other makers or suppliers.
The Ralston Type 8 was launched in 1928 (just in time for the financial crisis), and used the Engine and Driveline supplied by the Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg Corporation, based in Indiana USA. The engine was the mighty straight-8, as used in Duesenbergs, though at this stage the engine was not supercharged. The driveline was fitted to a chassis made by Ralston Engineering works, and bodies were supplied by the world's leading coachbuilders.
The first 'Rhino' model again used systems from Duesenberg. Now upping power with the addition of a supercharger. The more interesting addition was a front axle drive unit developed for the Cord L29. This allowed four-wheel-drive, fitted with the standard bodies (and marginally lengthened wheelbase frame), or more spectacularly, six-wheel-drive or half track options. Along with the front driven axle and transfer case (resulting in the need to offset the engine to the left side within the frame), the car also required a second driven axle at the rear. The two rear axles were approximately located either side of the standard Type-8 rear axle location. This produced a car that was necessarily longer, but also only allowed the fitting of two-door body styles because of the forward position of the first rear axle. Weight was increased significantly over a 'standard' Type-8, by as much as 3/4 ton.
Other fixtures were changed according to purpose - many cars sporting removable fuel tanks mounted outboard ahead of the front doors. Depending on model, fuel consumption varied from horrendous, to abysmal.
The Ralston Rhino Type-8R was an immensely accomplished off-road luxury vehicle. Fit-for-purpose allowed Ralston to charge sums of money unheard of for a motor vehicle. The six-wheel-drive and half-track versions were able to go almost anywhere, and had been designed to do so for very specific reasons.
The Ralston's native Finland is a beautiful place, but not the easiest to traverse by motor vehicle. For much of the year the ground is covered by snow, or if the snow has melted the ground can quickly turn to a mudbath. The ice, snow and mud of Finland is only one location - the other - was Africa. Ralston Industries founder Xavier was fond of big-game hunting. Along with gaming, the luxuries to which the aristocratic class deemed necessary, meant that an appropriate vehicle was of grand proportion, grander power, and in the case of the Rhino - grand capability. The six-wheel-drive prototypes had proved their value on the African Savanah, as well as the North African desert marches.
Alas, the car was launched as the Great Depression took hold. The Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg group was struggling financially also, though the supply of the front drive unit for the Rhino (based on the Cord L29 system), allowed C-A-D to develop a second generation unit for the V8-engine Cord 810/812 'Coffin Nose' for 1935.
The 'Tiger' line was to have gained access to the C-A-D V8 of the 810, but the financial collapse meant the program was delayed, and the vehicle was launched with Cadillac power in 1938, and without the additional front drive unit available.
Ralston had pre-bought enough front drive units for the limited volume Rhino Type 8R though, and had enough supply to continue buidling limited volume of the Rhino Type-I, all the way into the late 1950s at their Finnish works. Some cars had been specially built during WWII, and many cars that were already in private hands were converted to military staff cars.
The car was launched in 1932, when a mere eight vehicles were produced, reached its peak in a minor update for 1936 at thirty four cars. After the war, Ralston produced an average of five Rhino MkI (D & E) Type 8R vehicles until 1958.
This Rhino MkI Type 8R-32 (1932) Coupe Triple Axle has be built on Lego miniland scale for Flickr LUGNuts 77th Build Challenge, - 'Designing the Ralston Rhino' - a challenge to design the fictitious Rhino 'Truck' model for the fictitious Ralston company. The model must feature a 'X' in the styling, and also follow the themes developed in LUGNuts Challenge 63, - 'Designing the Ralston Tiger'.
Ralston Rhino Mk I Type 8R-32 (1932) Coupe Triple Axle
The Ralston Company's automotive roots stretch right back to the 1910's, but it wasn't until the late 1920's that the low-volume products offered really shone.
Like all luxury automotive companies, however, the Wall Street Crash and ensuing Great Depression upset the grand plans that they had put into place. Prior to WWII the Ralston Group was still based in Finland, where the assembly of it's cars took place. Many of the systems, however, were sourced from other makers or suppliers.
The Ralston Type 8 was launched in 1928 (just in time for the financial crisis), and used the Engine and Driveline supplied by the Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg Corporation, based in Indiana USA. The engine was the mighty straight-8, as used in Duesenbergs, though at this stage the engine was not supercharged. The driveline was fitted to a chassis made by Ralston Engineering works, and bodies were supplied by the world's leading coachbuilders.
The first 'Rhino' model again used systems from Duesenberg. Now upping power with the addition of a supercharger. The more interesting addition was a front axle drive unit developed for the Cord L29. This allowed four-wheel-drive, fitted with the standard bodies (and marginally lengthened wheelbase frame), or more spectacularly, six-wheel-drive or half track options. Along with the front driven axle and transfer case (resulting in the need to offset the engine to the left side within the frame), the car also required a second driven axle at the rear. The two rear axles were approximately located either side of the standard Type-8 rear axle location. This produced a car that was necessarily longer, but also only allowed the fitting of two-door body styles because of the forward position of the first rear axle. Weight was increased significantly over a 'standard' Type-8, by as much as 3/4 ton.
Other fixtures were changed according to purpose - many cars sporting removable fuel tanks mounted outboard ahead of the front doors. Depending on model, fuel consumption varied from horrendous, to abysmal.
The Ralston Rhino Type-8R was an immensely accomplished off-road luxury vehicle. Fit-for-purpose allowed Ralston to charge sums of money unheard of for a motor vehicle. The six-wheel-drive and half-track versions were able to go almost anywhere, and had been designed to do so for very specific reasons.
The Ralston's native Finland is a beautiful place, but not the easiest to traverse by motor vehicle. For much of the year the ground is covered by snow, or if the snow has melted the ground can quickly turn to a mudbath. The ice, snow and mud of Finland is only one location - the other - was Africa. Ralston Industries founder Xavier was fond of big-game hunting. Along with gaming, the luxuries to which the aristocratic class deemed necessary, meant that an appropriate vehicle was of grand proportion, grander power, and in the case of the Rhino - grand capability. The six-wheel-drive prototypes had proved their value on the African Savanah, as well as the North African desert marches.
Alas, the car was launched as the Great Depression took hold. The Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg group was struggling financially also, though the supply of the front drive unit for the Rhino (based on the Cord L29 system), allowed C-A-D to develop a second generation unit for the V8-engine Cord 810/812 'Coffin Nose' for 1935.
The 'Tiger' line was to have gained access to the C-A-D V8 of the 810, but the financial collapse meant the program was delayed, and the vehicle was launched with Cadillac power in 1938, and without the additional front drive unit available.
Ralston had pre-bought enough front drive units for the limited volume Rhino Type 8R though, and had enough supply to continue buidling limited volume of the Rhino Type-I, all the way into the late 1950s at their Finnish works. Some cars had been specially built during WWII, and many cars that were already in private hands were converted to military staff cars.
The car was launched in 1932, when a mere eight vehicles were produced, reached its peak in a minor update for 1936 at thirty four cars. After the war, Ralston produced an average of five Rhino MkI (D & E) Type 8R vehicles until 1958.
This Rhino MkI Type 8R-32 (1932) Coupe Triple Axle has be built on Lego miniland scale for Flickr LUGNuts 77th Build Challenge, - 'Designing the Ralston Rhino' - a challenge to design the fictitious Rhino 'Truck' model for the fictitious Ralston company. The model must feature a 'X' in the styling, and also follow the themes developed in LUGNuts Challenge 63, - 'Designing the Ralston Tiger'.