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Concept Cars Hall of Fame 1950 - 1965
Concept cars of this era often imitated the exciting new technology of jet airplanes and rockets. The term jet age derives in part from that styling cue. Others had a more modernistic sports car look. Harley Earl. the head of the GM Art Department had a major influence on these cars and those that went into production such as the Corvette, using elements of these designs. GM's Motoramas were hugely popular extravaganzas featuring these cars. While most were not intended for production, production cars several years later took many stylings and features from these cars. The automakers often gave their designers free reign to build concept cars that were often impracticle but designed to capture attention at car show. Below are the best of the best.
1951 Buick LeSabre. Developed by GM Art Department Head, Harley Earl. It was considered one of the most influential show cars of the 1950s. On of the first cars to have Jet Age styling.
1951 Buick LeSabre (2nd view). Among the advances was a wrap around windshield and the first tail fins. Body of aluminum, magnesium and fiberglass. Had a supercharged 215 V8 engine.
1951 Buick XP-300. This car had many mechanical similarities to the 1951 LeSabre concept car. Designed more by Charles Chayne at Buick Engineering than Harley Earl. It had a 300 HP engine Chayne said it could go 140 MPH.
1953 Buick Wildcat. Designed under Harley Earl for the 1953 Motorama this car had a fiberglass body and a 188 HP V8 engine. Its front wheel discs remained static as the wheels rotated around them.
1953 GM Firebird I. The first of three memorable Firebirds, this one looked like a rocket on wheels. Completely impracticle, it was a gas turbine engined car. It had a single seat with a bubble top and fiberglass body.
1954 Buick Wildcat II. This car had a fiberglass body and a 220 HP V8 engine. A classic design with "Dagmar" bumper guards. It had 4 side draft carburators, and swiveling headlights mounted beside its panoramic windshield.
1954 Ford La Tosca. Ford got into the act with a full bubble top and large tail fins. This was a not a full scale car and was remote control driven.
1954 Olds F-88. More of a sports car look with jet tail lights, this car would have competed with the Corvette if manufactured. It had a 250 HP V8 engine. Designed by Harley Earl, 3 were produced. One sold for $3.2 million in 2005.
1955 Ford Mystere. Bubble top styling was in full swing. This car had a rear engine and front bumper pods that are air cooler reservoirs. The steering was a stick that could be swung to the other seat. There was a TV behind the front seat but no engine.
1955 Lincoln Indianapolis. Designed by Italian Gian Poalo Boano, it had more of a European look than Space Age. Named after the Indy 500 race. Owned at one point by Errol Flynn. Sold at auction in 2006 for $1,375,000.
1955 LIncoln Futura. Hand built by Ghia in Italy. It had a 368 CI engine and was a huge success at the auto show. Later modified by George Barris to become the Batmobile for the TV show! Replicas are being made today.
1955 Pontiac Strato Star. Hinged sections above each door rose when thge door was opened to allow easier entry and exit. Postcard.
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe.
1956 Buick Centurion. This was a four seat sports car with bubble top that was part rocket, part jet engine. One of the most popular and classic concept cars. It had a fiberglass body and two tone paint. Source: Car design news
1956 Buick Centurion interior. Source: Car design news
1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket. No pretenses here...this one had rocket in the name and styling. It had a fiberglass body, 324 CI V8 engine, tilt steering wheel and "Dagmar" bumpers. The split window back was later used in Corvettes.
1956 Pontiac Club De Mer. This was a two seat roadster that was an excercise in futuristic design. It had only one "shark" tail fin. The body was stainless steel and was lower and had cleaner lines. Bare bones interior.
1957 Chrysler Diablo rocket looking car. This was an update of the 1956 Dart concept car. This little car had a 375 HP Hemi engine. Designed by Ghia in Italy. One sold at auction in 2013 for $1.375,000.
1956 Pontiac Firebird II. The styling was similar to the Firebird I but the bubble expanded to seat 4. It had a titanium body, all wheel independent suspension, power disc brakes and individually controlled AC.
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1958 Ford X-2000. This car had one of the largest bubble tops, bolt on tail lights and a grill that heavily influenced the Edsel. This design was over the top even in this era of futuristic concept cars. This was a scale model, though an enthusiast later built a full sized one.
1958 Plymouth Toronado. Built on the frame of a 1958 Plymouth Fury. This was full on jet age complete with engines, airplane tail and cockpit. The car was shown at auto shows in 1958 alongside a Redstone missile.
1959 Cadillac Cyclone. Rocket? Jet? no...this was two missiles with a car in between. This was one of Harley Earle's last and best cars. It had a 390 CI engine and exhaust just ahead of the front wheels. It also had an ahead of its time radar collision avoidance system in the nose cones.
1958 Pontiac Firebird III. GM's third and best Firebird concept car had seven wings or fins and 225 HP engine. The double bubble cockpit closely resembled a jet fighter. It had cruise control, AC and anti-lock brakes. Made the drivers think they were flying.
1961 Ford Gyron. This one was full on Jetsons, which debuted the next year in 1962. Coincidence? This two seater car only had two wheels and balanced by gyroscopes. When parked, two legs came out for support. This promo picture shows a version with 3 wheels.
1961 Chrysler Turbo Flite. Very forward looking car with a glass canapy that rose when the door opened and a rear spoiler. It also had tail lights and turn signals in a single lens and interior lighting in the door panels.
1962 Mustang I. This was a midengined car. It had an aluminum body but was too complex for production. A Mustang II concept car came out in 1963 and the production model in 1964.
1962 Ford Cougar 406. This car had the Mercedes gull wing doors 405 HP, and swing up headlights on the front fender. The second concept car with the Cougar name.
1963 Ford Cougar II. This two seater sports car foreshadowed many muscle cars that came later. It had a 260 HP engine, fiberglass body and pop up headlights. Intended as a response to the Ferrari and Corvette.
1964 Mercury Aurora Station Wagon. This incredible car had a clam shell rear entry, the bottom swung down and the top up to allow entry to the rear facing seat. Front seats swiveled. There was an oven, refrigerator, three radios, beverage cooler, sound recorder, plug in TV, cruise control, power steering and yes...a navigational device!
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