Seems like the only one that materialized from these is the Corvette Stingray. Some of them look like jet planes but most look just plain gawky.
Found by Bubba Martin.
Support the Blog — Buy This Book!
For Kindle and with free ePub version. Only $9.49 Great reading.
Here is what Gary Shapiro CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said: Dvorak's writing sings with insight and clarity. Whether or not you agree with John's views, he will get you thinking and is never boring. These essays are worth the read!
Put this ad on your blog!
Syndicate
Subscribe to Main Blog feed here:
Subscribe to Comments too (below):
Junk Email Filter
No wonder the Japanese started to devour the US car industry with crap like that as the pinnacle of US car design thinking. The saddest part is it doesn’t seem to have improved.
I’ll take that ’55 Ford Mystero, looks a lot like the ’55 Crown Vic I had in high school, but with a lot more flair. And the Corvette Mako Shark? I’ll bet Jay Leno is drooling right now and doesn’t know why.
Very nice! But there you have why the U.S. auto industry is hurting, just look at the cars they build nowadays.
Holy non flying car Batman!!
My dad had a 1950 Studebaker. I learned to drive in that car.
The 1951 was even cooler.
Look again, the 1955 Lincoln Futura became the production Batmobile of the 1960’s Batman TV show. They made quite a few, I understand. Does that qualify as a production car?
#6, Mark T., I don’t know if 8 counts as production, but I think all were built by George Barris. He bought the Futura concept car that cost Ford $250,000 in 1955 dollars for the tidy sum of $1 in 1966 and turned it into the first Batmobile. More info here (pretty cool):
http://www.1966batmobile.com/
and what happened tot he Turbine powered engine…
#8, It started global warming.
There is a 1958 Packard concept car in the Studebaker Museum in South Bend IN. Several features they used later found themselves in production cars.
A noteworthy item is that glass canopies never made it due to the “green house” effect, but they did help spur the use of air-conditioning. Another was the use of small motors to move the seats and windows.
Thanks. Very well done with the music.
Unfortunately most of these car ( other than the turbine models) were just a shell on top of old stuff. Imagine having to fix those cars after an accident. Shades of things to come .
Goes to show you – while they were dreaming with these impressive but ultimately non practical cars the Japanese were quietly moving along learning to build a basic reliable car , that was good on gas , reliable and could carry a family on its vacation or to the cottage at the lake.
What are we left with no – from these overpaid buffoons both on the upper floors and on the assembly lines- overpriced , overstuffed trucks called SUVs.
#11, Manitoba, you’re probably not old enough to remember, but back in 1955, “Made in Japan” was just a joke. I’ve got to admit, their engineering is impressive and just think, their only natural resource is fish. Somehow I don’t believe I’d go for living in a 200 sq. ft box in Tokyo, working for their wages, but they do make a nice car (so I’ve heard, even though most look alike and have the styling of, of, well I can’t think of a metaphor).
Darnit, I still want that Atom posted here a few weeks back. And I wouldn’t mind driving that Corvette either.
BubbaRay seems to miss the point.
While the american car industry was on top of the world and so proud ot themselves those little guys half way around the world with few resources and terrible products that we laughed at for their terrible quality have beat the pants off the major american industry
The slogan was “What is good for G.M. is good for America”
These were the major well paying jobs that set the standards for wages and benefits and were the bedrock of the U.S. economy not only for the jobs but also for the spinoff and subsidiary support jobs that the car industry created in its communities,
It used to that a general motors car commanded a premium – it had a percieved value and was desirable for resale as a used car
Now the Japanese car commands that marketing and profit spot.
Instead of the premium spot the General Motor Malibu has to be promoted as “As good as x japanese car ( of which it is a copy) and less money ( and profit for g.m.)
The management and stafff of the us car industry were in a commanding spot and now therir position has terribly eroded due to their greed , ego and plain stupidity.
When I see elderly Ukranian bubbas in the country side driving Toyotas I know that the American car companies no matter what they try to convince you have lost major market share.
People are very conservative about their brand of car.
Especially in a cold , rugged climate durability ,, trust and reliability are major.
It is a double edged sword.
Once you lose the trust and the maket share – you have been shot down . It is a double edged sword and cuts both ways.
Classics are great! Looking at those old vehicles that has been made, it really makes me want to go back to those years. I’ve still some Buick classics on the road having those elegant GMC bumper designs. A lot of changes has been made with today’s cars.