American Concept Cars Showcase, Part 2:
 "QUANTUM SHOT" #742Link - by Avi Abrams The Creme de la Creme of Automotive Design Here is Part 2 of our Exceptional Concept Cars series (read the first part here) which highlights the absolute best in concept car design from more than 100 years of automobile history. It is not our goal to present a complete list, or even comprehensive coverage of particular brands and car shows (there is enough material of this nature available on the web). What we want to do instead, is to celebrate the daring and esthetic value of the most fascinating and unusual concept automobiles - to give you shapes and curves to brighten up your day, and to make you say "Wow, what a cool concept!" a couple of times. The Age of Chrome, Aerodynamic Excess and Sheer Excitement Jet-like GM XP-21 Firebird from 1954:  1959 Cadillac Cyclone "Motorama" dream car:    1959 GMC Firebird III - truly a product of the Jet Age! -  Possibly the world's rarest automobile - only one car exists out of only two produced as a Motorama “Dream Car”: a 1954 Oldsmobile Rocket F88 -    (image via) "Harley Earl, the legendary automotive stylist, designed the F-88 under the belief that it would have outsold the Corvette and forever changed automotive history. Unfortunately Chevrolet, which produced more GM products than any of its other divisions, convinced the GM board of directors to cut the Oldsmobile project. The F-88 never went into production due to that sabotage combined with lukewarm Corvette sales. The 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 was strictly ever a dream car." Little-known 1953 Cadillac Ghia Coupe:  1953 Dodge Fire Arrow, designed by Ghia, with total of four vehicles built between 1953-1954: .jpg) Dressed in chrome and full of curves is this 1953 Lincoln XL-500:   1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass (the first Cutlass) was also quite remarkable:    Aerodynamic and bold 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis (intended for the 1955 Turin Motor Show):   (images via, bottom photos: Ron Kimball) Also from 1955 is this cool and often over-looked Oldsmobile 88 Delta concept:   (image via) 1955 Lincoln Futura, designed by Ghia, Italy (which later evolved into a Batmobile): .jpg)   (image via) 1955 Ford Mystere: streamlined shapes and lots of chrome -   This is somewhat less-known concept, but perhaps one of the most flamboyant from Ford:  1955 Ford La Tosca:  1955 Cadillac La Salle II Hardtop Sedan:  1955 Buick WildCat III sports huge bumper "bombs":  1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket had a spokeless steering wheel! -   Speaking about bumper "bombs", this is really over the top:  Here is extremely rare and stunning 1957 Chrysler Diablo, also the result of collaboration with Ghia (considered the most valuable concept car from the 1950s):  (image and info via) Some discarded original Corvette design makeover concepts: Xp882 Z and Aero Z -  Another Chevrolet Corvette concept that did not make it was 1957 Chevrolet SS (more info):   (images via) Beautiful view of the 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car, one of many such concepts in 1960s, info:  (image via) 1969 Chrysler 70X concept with unusual doors:   ------ More modern offerings From more recent years, we like this concept by Chevrolet: Tandem 2000 (even though is simply re-uses Camaro, Firebird, Fiero and Corvette components, the whole design still works on a futuristic level, offering something fresh) :  (image via) Another funky concept from Chevrolet: the Miray "mixes fast jet fighter styling with a frugal hybrid powerplant" -   We especially like twin boat-like cockpit treatment:  (image via) ------ Probably the most flamboyant coachwork ever! This is 1948 Cadillac Series 62 Saoutchik "3-position drophead", which is also drop-dead gorgeous...   (images via) "Some of the most flamboyant, and expensive coachwork ever to come out of France was created, or caused to be, by expatriate russian cabinet maker Jacques Saoutchik. In 1948, noted New York city furrier Louis Ritter commissioned Saoutchik to execute a special convertible on a Cadillac chassis. The car was completed in time to be displayed at the Paris salon of 1949."   (images credit: Mahu54 and Gregory Moine) ------ This is it for now, folks, stay tuned for the next part. Take your girl for a spin in a two-wheeler! -  (1961 Ford Gyron gyroscopic car concept) |
