Jerry Woodward's X2000

The X2000 was featured on the cover of the 1962 Grand National Roadster Show Official Souvenir Program.

The X2000 was featured on the cover of Car Craft June 1962.

Two color photos of the X2000 was featured on the cover of Customs Illustrated November 1962.

The X2000 as it sat when it was featured in Customs Illustrated November 1962. Photo by William Bass, courtesy of Customs Illustrated.

Photo by William Bass, courtesy of Customs Illustrated.

Photo by William Bass, courtesy of Customs Illustrated.

Photo by William Bass, courtesy of Customs Illustrated.

Photo by William Bass, courtesy of Customs Illustrated.

In September of 2013 the X2000 was advertised for sale on eBay. Photo courtesy of eBay.

The X2000 as it appeared when it was advertised for sale on eBay in September of 2013. Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

The X2000 was a three wheeled futuristic show car built by Jerry Woodward of Provo, Utah. Jerry's creation was originally dubbed the "X1970-Vortex", but he renamed it X2000 to indicate that it was the car of the next century. Jerry spent six years assembling the Vortex in the rear of an auto glass shop ha and his father owned and operated. The streamlining of the front end was designed to produce stability at high speeds, and the engine, a 1952 Lincoln V8, was therefore placed in the rear. The engine was bored to 345 cubic inches. It was also given an all-out souping treatment for an estimated total horsepower of 450. Power was transmitted through a 10-inch Auburn clutch and a 1950 Lincoln tranmission. The body was hand-formed and rolled from 20 gauge black metal and finished in blue metallic paint with white trim. The rear end of the car incorporated a full-width red lucite blinker made out of 14 light bulbs and a special reflector. The rear bumper was from a 1958 Lincoln, and the dashboard was from a 1950 Nash. An integral roll bar framed the windshield. The frame was hand-made, and it featured a 133-inch wheelbase and 72-inch rear tread. A fork type suspension held the single front wheel, while the rear suspension incorporated swing axles and Chrysler torsion bars. Jerry ran 1950 Lincoln wheels on the car. The total weight of the car was two ton. After completing the build, Jerry test ran the car on the Utah salt flats, achieving more than 150 mph. According to Jerry, the unique construction allowed a right-angle turn at 40 mph in completely safety.

The build was completed in 1962. February 16 - 25, 1962 the car was shown at the Grand National Roadster Show. The car was shown on the cover of the Official Souvenir Program for the show. Later on the same year it landed the cover of Car Craft June 1962 and Customs Illustrated November 1962. Jerry, who had won the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" award with his 1929 Ford Model A Roadster "Thunder Rod" in 1957 was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In September of 2013 the X2000 was advertised for sale on eBay. At the time it was still in the original condition, unrestored. The paint, interior, engine appeared as it did in 1962. The car was sold to Chicago.

Magazine Features

Car Craft June 1962
Customs Illustrated November 1962