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HeritageHorsepower's avatar
May 7
In 1933, inventor Brooks Walker developed an innovative “fifth wheel” attachment that could be extended sideways from a car’s rear bumper to assist with parallel parking.

This additional wheel slightly raised the rear tires and rotated the vehicle sideways into narrow spaces, an inventive concept that was well ahead of its era. Pretty remarkable automotive engineering.
May 7, 2026
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Replies (6)
alsancle avatar
· May 7
The four wheel steering on many cars now greatly aids this. There are times whenI need four wheel steering on my truck, which is only a 1/2 ton but has the long bed. Park in the wrong spot and you might not be leaving when you come back out.
JohnBloom avatar
· May 8
Packard 726 or 733?  I've seen this video previously and wondered about the guy who thought this up.  The voice on the video is classic old radio/commercial voice that I swear I've heard before.
HemiJoel avatar
· May 9
How was it powered?
alsancle avatar
· May 9
@HemiJoel  From the patent.

A friction roller pressed against the tread or sidewall of one regular rear tire. This drove a chain/sprocket system connected to another roller or directly to the fifth wheel. The lowering motion itself engaged the drive via springs and linkages—no separate clutch or gear meshing needed in the basic design
mparadise avatar
· May 9
@alsancle Amazing what people put their time and energy in to.
alsancle avatar
· May 10
Rube Goldberg?