Rare, interesting, cool GM pictures

[!!!TED!!!]

So, I found some back up CD's from 2006. They contain a bunch of cool stuff from C&G past, as well as stuff from all over the internets. Most of this has been lost in the sands of time, so I think I will share some here.

First up, is a repost from the "New GM" thread...

Here is the Pontiac G6 we were supposed to get, before Bob Lutz had them simplify it!

These pics come from the actual production G6 launch brochure:

I made this image for C&G in '06 to show the pre-Lutz cues on the car we got:

Here is a scan from GM Design showing the theme they were working on for the GMX295 program, aka 2004 Cadillac Seville. Bob Lutz ordered this car redone (softened).

I made this image for C&G to show what the car might have looked like in press pics:

Iv yet to find it, but I based this photochop on a picture of the "pre-Lutz" Pontiac Grand Prix:

Here is the Lambda-based Chevrolet minivan we were supposed to get:

The cancelled GMC Sub-Theta (GMT162). It was to be a small crossover riding on a Delta and Theta platform mix. A Chevrolet version was also planned. You can see alot of the design vocabulary in the 2010 GMC Terrain!:

Popular Mechanics spy pic shows a nearly finished product!

A wall of Corvette renderings! This was snuck out of the studio during C6 development!

Early C6 model (shown at a Miami consumer clinic):

This image comes from the Canadian Chevrolet Cobalt launch site from 2004!

[Blake Noble]

Keep 'em coming.

[!!!TED!!!]

Now, some Cadillac stuff:

Simon Cox Cadillac Sixteen:

Sketches from 2003:

This image led to weeks of debate and speculation on C&G. It is a blown up pic taken from a slide show at a GM press conference before we knew what the new STS was going to look like.

Someone from C&G whipped this up, I think. Claim it if its yours!

These images are done by a design student, and were featured on cardesignnews years ago. I think they are pretty cool. Hope he or she went far!

Mid-engine Cadillac CTC:

Early EVOQ rendering:

Cadillac FTS:

Cadillac ULC:

Motor Trend article about the C-body design. April 1984:

More later...

[Croc]

I will never get tired of the talent from the Cadillac division. GM's best styling IMO has always centered around Cadillac.

[ocnblu]

Totally cool thread, Ted. More, please sir!

[Satty]

That red G6, while ugly, is at least interesting and unique, not like the boring, bloated jellybean they ended up putting on the market.

[ZL-1]

That red G6, while ugly, is at least interesting and unique, not like the boring, bloated jellybean they ended up putting on the market.

Unique, yes. Interesting... not so much IMHO. The sketches belw the pic are interesting, but GM would never have allowed a production car to have such large wheels and ride height. Unfortunately any G6 would come up short in the EXCITEMENT!!!!!eleventy billion!!!1!!!!1!! department, with the notable exception of the silver concept G6.

Other impressions: The GMC looked very cool! That STS design was hideous, but some of those Cadillac illustrations and models are very cool!

Edited July 11, 2009 by ZL-1

[A Horse With No Name]

Thanks !!!TED!!! keep them coming.

I'm with 'blu, these are fabulous.

Chris

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Looks like Opel stole the original G6 headlight idea...

I remember the STS pic and debate. Good times!

I'd still like to see something like the ULC in showrooms.

That red G6, while ugly, is at least interesting and unique, not like the boring, bloated jellybean they ended up putting on the market.

I think that sums it up nicely.

I really hate Bob Lutz 'blob-ification' of everything (he does it with EVERYTHING he touches) However, I don't think any of these designs (original G6, GP, STS, etc) would've done well in the market.

Edited July 11, 2009 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[CSpec]

I remember that Lambda minivan. Lutz went on record before the program was canceled that the next minivans would "look like spaceships", and I'm glad we were able to find a picture of what he was talking about! Also, I like the GMC sub-Theta. The Terrain takes a lot of cues from that I think.

[Intrepidation]

Here is the Pontiac G6 we were supposed to get, before Bob Lutz had them simplify it!

These pics come from the actual production G6 launch brochure:

This could have been salvageable. First and foremost, prototype's ass is way too saggy...it should have emulated that profile sketch more.

Up front, the headlights should be a little bigger. The silvers look like they would be useless as headlights and they're too small to look like an important part of the design. The lower fascia should have better detailing...perhaps larger fog light housings set a deeper in the fascia and a little lower.

Lower the ride height so it doesn't look like an Outback, and give it some less tacky wheels and it could have been promising.

[Intrepidation]

Why was GMT162 canceled so far in its development cycle? Especially since small crossovers are all the rage. I like the design of this GMC much better than the Terrain's.

[Satty]

The red sketch actually makes me think of the '06+ Mitsu Eclipse.

[Croc]

This could have been salvageable. First and foremost, prototype's ass is way too saggy...it should have emulated that profile sketch more.

Up front, the headlights should be a little bigger. The silvers look like they would be useless as headlights and they're too small to look like an important part of the design. The lower fascia should have better detailing...perhaps larger fog light housings set a deeper in the fascia and a little lower.

Lower the ride height so it doesn't look like an Outback, and give it some less tacky wheels and it could have been promising.

That profile sketch only looks less droopy because it has a spoiler.

Honestly, if the G6 we got were the G6 concept, it would be fine. The main differences were the detailing and obvious thought put into individual design elements.

[Intrepidation]

That profile sketch only looks less droopy because it has a spoiler.

Honestly, if the G6 we got were the G6 concept, it would be fine. The main differences were the detailing and obvious thought put into individual design elements.

Yes, but the spoiler is part of the body work, not a bolt on.

I agree with the G6 concept...great looking car, although the front end needs an update.

[Satty]

Thats the C6, not the G6.

[daves87rs]

Cool pics!

That cobalt pic would make a good sig!

[!!!TED!!!]

Just back from a week long vacation. Will revive this thread soon...

[GMTruckGuy74]

Can't wait TED! Anymore pictures of the Lambda-based minivans?? Any other Pontiac and GMC pictures? Thanks for doing this for us to enjoy

[GMTruckGuy74]

*BUMP*

I know you stated "soon" in your post TED, but I just don't want you forgetting about this thread

Edited July 23, 2009 by GMTruckGuy74

[balthazar]

Red clay G6 is horrible, B&W update needs (all) details refined, the production car is 10x better than either of those, hands-down. Of course, the 'chopped' proportions of the show concept rank over the other 3.

[!!!TED!!!]

*BUMP*

I know you stated "soon" in your post TED, but I just don't want you forgetting about this thread

Im pretty busy.

A 1973 Cadillac Seville proposal:

And another CTC proposal:

And scale model:

Some recent cool Cadillac renderings of the CTS Coupe (not rare, but cool to see in light of the older designs earlier in the thread!):

[gm4life]

Thanks the G6 pre-Lutz was unique and loud but also ugly.

[!!!TED!!!]

Some Buick stuff!

2003 Buick Centieme

Believe it or not, this is an early Enclave rendering:

Buick Christmas Card!

The very first image we saw of the LaCrosse on C&G (was much debated!)

Countdown to Lucerne (look how many models Buick had then!)

Enclave sketch from the website flash animation:

A 1973 Buick invoice:

C-body design:

W-body design:

Inside the Buick studio around 1999 (with Rendezvous development)

[A Horse With No Name]

Love the Y photo, TED...

Chris

[GMTruckGuy74]

Thanks for the update TED, and I hope you don't think I was being rude!

[CSpec]

I remember this picture. Brings back good memories of people trying to increase the brightness and contrast and what have you. Do you still have that picture of Chicago Auto Show setting up before the Lacrosse was unveiled? They were testing a presentation on a video screen and someone caught it with the event's webcams, which you could control at the time. Goooood times.

[Camino LS6]

The webcam thing was big fun, wasn't it?!

[PurdueGuy]

Oh, Buick Y-Job, you never fail to look beautiful, even next to a younger contemporary.

I need to find the sketches of the redesigned Saturn Ion before they scrapped it & brought in the Astra.

[ocnblu]

Cool, Purdue, I'd like to see those.

[!!!TED!!!]

I remember this picture. Brings back good memories of people trying to increase the brightness and contrast and what have you.

Heres one of the brightened versions I did back then:

Do you still have that picture of Chicago Auto Show setting up before the Lacrosse was unveiled? They were testing a presentation on a video screen and someone caught it with the event's webcams, which you could control at the time. Goooood times.

Yes! Chicago Autoshow 2004:

[!!!TED!!!]

Oh, Buick Y-Job, you never fail to look beautiful, even next to a younger contemporary.

I need to find the sketches of the redesigned Saturn Ion before they scrapped it & brought in the Astra.

[!!!TED!!!]

Thanks for the update TED, and I hope you don't think I was being rude!

Not at all!

[!!!TED!!!]

The webcam thing was big fun, wasn't it?!

Webcams were great!

I have a bunch of pics from the Chicago Autoshow cams from '04,'05,'06.

Check out the crowds around the all-new Corvette in '04!

[!!!TED!!!]

A few more Buick Images:

Designers Work on a 1956 Buick Design:

1972 Buick Riviera Design Proposal:

1990s Buick Electra Park Avenue Artwork:

1999 Buick Cielo:

[ocnblu]

Always interesting to see how ideas migrate to different divisions for production. Looking at the 1972 Riviera proposal, it is clear to me the side treatment evolved a bit and went into the 1970 Monte Carlo, where it became an integral part of first-gen MC style distinction.

[Croc]

Huh. GM was toying with bustleback styling as far back as the first Seville...like that.

[PurdueGuy]

Thanks Ted.

[knightfan26917]

Always interesting to see how ideas migrate to different divisions for production. Looking at the 1972 Riviera proposal, it is clear to me the side treatment evolved a bit and went into the 1970 Monte Carlo, where it became an integral part of first-gen MC style distinction.

Indeed ... and even more so into the 2nd gen MC styling...

VERY cool pics, etc. ... thanks for sharing these with us!!!

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 = Sept 5-16, '09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"All my pictures seem to fade to black and white" ... George Michael ... 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me'

[balthazar]