Past Concepts/Design Proposals/Prototypes

[HarleyEarl]

I'm crazy about any carmakers ideas for possible manufacture or just as a design study. Some are wonderful and some are downright wacky.

American Motors in the 60s:

AMX concept:


AMC Cavalier concept:


American Motors design proposals, probably from the 70s/early 80s:

[ocnblu]

I'm with you, Harley... I LOVE that stuff. I could pour over that stuff for hours... and old car ads too...

[HarleyEarl]

Totally, Blu....it facinates me what some of these guys come up with. Just love it.

1964 Studebaker Skyview:



1956 Chevrolet Impala:

[balthazar]

The 'what could've been' is usually better than the 'what is'. My dream list is packed with one-offs & concepts.

[HarleyEarl]

This was a great Firebird concept, the '78 Type K, not to be confused with K-cars.

[HarleyEarl]

Here is the 2005 Citroen C-SportLounge concept. I like the interesting chrome details.

Edited August 31, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[razoredge]

Whats that a K Kar ? =}:-)

[mute]

AMC Cavalier concept:


i love that concept, especially how the rear axle is behind the slope of the rear glass
drop the front for a nice rake and its hot as shit and muscle to the max looking

[HarleyEarl]

That AMC Cavalier is a 60s concept and was way ahead of it's time....with a few updates, it could be very current.....I like how the rear wheels are back of the rear glass as well.

[mute]

corvair-esque

[Flybrian]

Maybe its just me, but everything except the Impala ranges from unappealing to grotesque. The proportions of the Cavalier concept are plain lousy.

Bring on something hot like this '61 Dodge Flite-Wing:

[HarleyEarl]

That Dodge is way cool!....I had not seen that before...

[RichW5]

If you remember (from the old board), The AMC Cavalier concept had doors and fenders that were interchangeable. Ie. The left rear fender was the same as the right front. The doors were the same. It was a cost reduction. Strange, but not bad looking.

[HarleyEarl]

RichW5, I had forgotten about that. Yes those fenders were interchangeable...a novel idea.

Here's another AMC proposal:

4-door sedan and wagon Matador:

[HarleyEarl]

[Mule Bakersdozen LS]

Never heard of that Pontiac Farago concept. Those middle two AMC hatchbacks were actually productions vehicles in Venezuela I think dubbed the Lerma.

[HarleyEarl]

Never heard of that Pontiac Farago concept. Those middle two AMC hatchbacks were actually productions vehicles in Venezuela I think dubbed the Lerma.

[post="7801"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Interesting about those two AMC hatcbacks being produced in South America. In my reference they are listed as prototypes.

[HarleyEarl]

Here's the 1999 Chevy Nomad concept:

[balthazar]

FlyBrian- I've seen a great quantity of pics of the Flitewing over the years, and tho it has some really cool & innovative features, it also has plenty of stylistic oddness to it, too. Oh; it's still more hip than the AMC Cavalier, but it's no Miss America, either.

[HarleyEarl]

1985 Saab EV-1 concept:

[mjdecker]

Here's the 1999 Chevy Nomad concept:

Asside the mirrors, I perfer the styling of that concept over the Kappa based Nomad

1985 Buick Wildcat concept (styling almost reminds me of a Bugatti design at some points

[99camaroSS]

ok so this wasnt exaclty a factory concept or anything and its only a few years old but i have always found this car interesting

[HarleyEarl]

ok so this wasnt exaclty a factory concept or anything and its only a few years old but i have always found this car interesting

[post="8717"][/post]

Me too!....really liked that car and thanks for posting it.

[HarleyEarl]

The '54 Dodge Granada concept. I wonder if Ford had to pay Dodge for the use of that name?

Edited September 4, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[HarleyEarl]

The '69 Thunderbird Saturn II concept car. I wonder if GM had to pay Ford for the use of that name?

[ocnblu]

BLEH... the Dodge Granada looks exactly like a Pit Bull!

[HarleyEarl]

LOL...it really is horrendous.

[balthazar]

Agreed: the Granada is ungainly. I do not believe it still exists: I have never seen a later pic and a quick google turned up nothing.

[HarleyEarl]

I had never seen that Dodge Granada before. Bathazar, do you know the background on it?

[Flybrian]

Is it me or does that dopey grille configuration look familiar?

[HarleyEarl]

Now that you say it FlyBrian....even the hood scoop idea, the lidded headlights...makes you wonder if these two had the same desiger...

[balthazar]

Fly: The T-bird & Granada look alike like Brad Pitt & Frankenstein's Monster look alike; same features but definately different in appearance.

HE: Info on the Grananda is extremely sketchy. It was built by long-time station-wagon manufacturer Ionia in MI of all fiberglas, including bumpers, brackets & some structural members.

In fact it DOES survive, unrestored, in the Joe Bortz collection in IL. I cannot locate any current online pics of it, however. Edited September 6, 2005 by balthazar

[Flybrian]

Fly: The T-bird & Granada look alike like Brad Pitt & Frankenstien's Monster look alike.

[post="10076"][/post]

Ya know, some might take that to mean the two are the exact same cars. :P

I just posted that because when I saw that grille, the T-Bird popped into my mind based on the hooded headlamps. Upon thinking more (and dropping more acid), I can see a more solid resemblance between the Granada and a '55 Stude...

[balthazar]

Yeah- that makes more sense. Still, the Stude's palatable, the Granada is possibly the ugliest '50s proposal by a major manufacturer I can think of.

[ocnblu]

Yeahbut... didn't that Studebaker design predate the ghastly Dodge? I thought the Stude came out in '53.

[balthazar]

The Granada is a '54. The beautiful Stude Starlight coupe design did appear as a '53, it's this particular chrome-dripping & protrusion-festooned '55 Speedster version that Fly is referring to. Actually, I have little problem with it, and it doesn't overcome the near timelessness of the rest of the body. "protrusion-festooned": :lol:!

[HarleyEarl]

More AMC concepts:

'69 AMC Vixen:

Edited September 16, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[rkmdogs]

Me too!....really liked that car and thanks for posting it.

That was the Stehr company prototype that they were trying to sell to GM
as a retro model, built on a C5 chassis.
Chevy didn't buy it, since they already had the C6 in the works, so Steyr put it
on the market as a conversion kit....... but the price is $$$$$$$$! :o Edited September 17, 2005 by rkmdogs

[HarleyEarl]

Please, GM, never do this again:

[sciguy_0504]

LMAO!

[Sixty8panther]

Awsome thread!!! The Cavalier concept, as those who payed attention ot my old Trivia thread will rmember had interchangable body panels, doors, hood/trunk, bumpers & even all glass front to back.

[HarleyEarl]

I almost never like Renault concepts, but liked this one, the Iguana:

[ocnblu]

O...M...G... check that GM concept once again... the headlights are right off a CTS! Oh, the horror! :o

[LosAngeles]

Please, GM, never do this again:

[post="15845"][/post]

Isn't this the Ultralite? If so, I respect this car for its effort at trying to make a car as light as possible.....these were the cars there were tons of in Demolition Man.

[Flybrian]

Isn't this the Ultralite?  If so, I respect this car for its effort at trying to make a car as light as possible.....these were the cars there were tons of in Demolition Man.

[post="16230"][/post]

Negatory. That's the fuel-cell GM Precept.

This is the 1992 Ultralite:

The vehicle structural weight including two doors, front and rear bumpers and interior components was 420 lb, which was within 1% of the original structural weight estimate. Engineering structural stiffness tests conducted by GM showed the structure to be considerably stiffer than anything previously tested.

420lbs. Think about that. That's what GM is capable of when it wants to do something.

Best corporation building the best automobiles the world has ever seen - when it feels like it.

[HarleyEarl]

Yes and this one is way better looking.....and GM has been very capable in engineering and design.

[zoomtm]

meet the mighty buick blackhawk:



Engine
1970 Buick GS Stage III 455 cubic inch V8 with EFI

Horsepower
463 @ 4600 rpm

Torque
510 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm

Weight
3600 lbs (estimate)

Power to Weight Ratio
7.8 lbs per hp

Edited September 19, 2005 by zoomtm

[Croc]

Never cared for the Blackhawk...it looks like a replica or restored car versus a retro car. No me gusta.

[razoredge]

Never cared for the Blackhawk...it looks like a replica or restored car versus a retro car.  No me gusta.

[post="16508"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Like who cares ? :unsure:

[HarleyEarl]

I love the Blackhawk. Thanks Zoomtm for that great photo, have been looking for a good one. Wasn't it built for Buicks 100th anniversary? In fact there is a car that cruises around here that almost looks like it. Edited September 19, 2005 by HarleyEarl