The 1936 art deco-inspired Stout Scarab is considered to be the world’s first production minivan but unlike most modern family haulers, it has a presence that will stop you in your tracks.

Only nine of them were ever made, with one now heading to the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace in the UK this September.

The particular example of the Stout Scarab is rumored to have hosted a meeting between General Eisenhower and Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War. During the 1950s, it was used by a circus owner that kept monkeys (!) in the car while on tour.

Also Read: The Stout Scarab Is An Art Deco Minivan From 1936

A French industrial designer bought it afterwards and placed it in a museum in Reims. The current owners restored this lovely automobile in 2001 and have since kept it in an outstanding condition.

The Stout Scarab is the brainchild of automotive and aviation engineer William Bushnell Stout, who thought he could sell as many as 100 examples of it per year. Unfortunately his V8-powered coachbuilt creation proved to be too expensive and too ahead of its time, with the project killed off after just nine cars.

The tear drop-shaped Scarab was priced at $5,000 at the time, which is almost $100,000 in today’s money. The cabin features a completely flat floor for maximum space and comfort, thanks to its rear-engine, rear-drive layout. The unibody construction and the long wheelbase also played a big role too.

The Stout Scarab will be on display at the Concours of Elegance between September 6 and 8, alongside every Aston Martin Zagato variant and a special collection of Bentleys among others.

The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One
The Stout Scarab Is Probably The Coolest Minivan Ever, It’s Certainly The First One