Rogue -1954

In 1954, PlastiCar, Incorporated of Doylestown, PA. introduced two plastic body sports cars; one roadster, the Rogue, and one hardtop, the Marquis (note: the Marquis was also available as an aluminum body by order). Both of these new plastic body cars were copies of European race cars raced by Jean-Louis Rosier that were aluminum bodied specials running Renault drivetrains. The Rogue and Marquis were built on double steel welded and riveted ladder-type frames and utilized Renault 4CV drivelines (including the 750cc, 24 BHP engine) and suspension components. The bodies were made of 9 fiberglass pieces bonded together.

The Lane Motor Museum’s Rogue was once known as the “Commander”, all because of a remark made during a lunch at the Commanders Club in Lansing, Michigan. During a lunch conversation at the club, Commander Walter Soderman overheard some of the other Commanders discussing automobiles and exclaimed that he could build one himself. After some banter and disbelief from others that he could build a car and get it licensed for road use, a bet was in place. Cmdr. Soderman went to work on his car… his claims were that he built a chassis, molded a fiberglass body, and add stainless steel trim work to finish the car off. However, we now know that he somehow acquired one of the few Rogue fiberglass sports cars that were produced by PlastiCar, Inc. and modified it by adding switches in the dash, stainless steel trim down the body sides, bumpers at the front and rear, and… most important of all… boat horns atop each front fender. Using a little-known fiberglass bodied car like the Rogue allowed Cmdr. Soderman to win his bet. The reward… a tall glass of beer.

Lane Motor Museum restored the car in 2021-2022 and has taken it back to what we believe it looked like as a new Rogue.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: PlastiCar, Incorporated
Country of Origin: United States, Doylestown, PA
Drivetrain Configuration: Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine: Renault 4CV, water-cooled, 750cc, 4-cylinder, four-stroke, 24 bhp
*The Rogue included an aluminum cylinder head with quick replace valve inserts and a compression ratio of 7.25:1 and boasted 50 miles per gallon at normal driving speeds.
Transmission: 3-speed manual plus reverse
Top speed: 60 – 100 mph (options dependent)
Dimensions: 142” long x 36” high x 56” wide
Weight: 1,000 lbs.
Years Produced: 1954
Number Produced: unpublished
Cost: ~$2,000 (as advertised in 1954)