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"QUANTUM SHOT" #742
Link - 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:

      

      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):

      
      
      
      (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)

      READ THE FIRST PART HERE! ->

      CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR COOL AUTO SERIES! ->

 



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