Stunning Future Concept Cars!

               

 

Stunning Future Concept Cars

Every car company has at one time or another produced a concept car that would make the rounds of the auto shows and test the waters for future styling. General Motors produced a fleet of cars that made the Futurama circuit over several years. Many of the styling cues from these cars were later integrated into every day models produced by the company's several divisions.

Here are some of the most futuristic design concepts from years past:

1. The 1948 Buick Streamliner

This was a car designed by a mechanical engineer in the 1940s. The car holds some classic lines from the pre war era cars that were still in production and combined them with a low stylish body. The large fender humps and wide sills were styling cues that would later be incorporated in other car designs.

2. The 1962 Ford Cougar

Although the name would later be used by Mercury for along running series of cars the name Cougar was used by Ford for a concept to test market a competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette. When Ford stopped production of the two seats Thunderbird in 1957 its competitor to the Corvette ended production. Over the years Ford tested many concepts but never reentered the two seat sports car market with a true competitor to the Corvette.

3. The 1958 Corvette XP-700

Chevrolet and its engineering whiz Zora Arkus-Duntov continually tried to update the Corvette. Several concepts were designed and built to show test future styling themes. The plexi-glass dome and the protruding grill brought styling cues from the jet aircraft industry that was taking off in the late 1950s.

4. The 1959 Cadillac Cyclone

Even General Motors luxury division was not immune to the concept car craze. Over the years several sporting Cadillac designs were developed to test market. The Cyclone was based on the Cadillac convertible platform for 1959 and incorporated a more rounded design with headlights integrated into the grill and large "Dagmars" filling the areas where the headlights were. The rear wings and the protruding front end treatment incorporated many themes from the airplane industry.

5. The 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II

Chrysler had a long history of using Italian design studios to assist in building concept cars. One such concept was produced for DeSoto by Ghia and made the circuit of auto shows in 1954. The low slung body style and swooping rear end that disappears from view were Italian styling features that were used on many cars from Alpha Romeo and Lancia at the time.

6. The 1961 Chrysler Turboflite

In the early 1960s Chrysler was experimenting with turbine engine cars. There were actually a very limited number produced and many still remain in personal collections today. As part of this program Chrysler commissioned several concept designs to incorporate the space travel and aeronautic design themes into cars.

7. The 1955 Ghia Gilda Streamline X

This is another version of a turbine engine powered car designed and produced by the Italian firm Ghia for Chrysler. The aero design themes are very evident in the cockpit and rear wings on the car.

8. The 1955 General Motors Firebird II

Not to be outdone in the race to build a turbine powered car General Motors produced a radical looking twin turbine car in 1955 for the Futurama circuit. This concept incorporated many styling cues from the aeronautics industry including a rear tail and wings.

9. The 1958 General Motors Firebird III

Three years later G.M. was back in the game with yet another turbine powered concept that incorporated a double bubble canopy and rear tail treatment from the modern jet fighters.

10. The 1974 Twentieth Century Motorcar Dale

Finally; perhaps the biggest fraud ever perpetuated on the American car buying public. The Liz Carmichael produced Dale line up of cars from 1974. These cars were "so close" to production that one was actually awarded as a prize on the Price Is Right. The three wheeled design and futuristic looks were said to provide gas mileage of 70 miles per gallon at a price under $2,500.00. The poseur who designed the car and sold the concept was later arrested after a television episode of Unsolved Mysteries revealed the fraud.