Monday, July 23, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Harley Earls Concept Firebirds
Harley
Earl in 1958 with a trio of his finned
FIREBIRDS; I - 1954; II - 1956; III - 1958.
These spectacular super cars had
become a major pop culture hit and also featured a number of firsts, including
the first-ever onboard computer. Building on top this winning heritage,
execs within the Pontiac division of General Motors chose to launch a sporty new
nameplate in the mid-1960s: FIREBIRD. At this time in auto history
Motordom's execs embraced Earl's dynamic modernism. After all, they knew that
this fashionable design-movement was directly responsible for selling millions
of American cars and naturally stoked the flames of social economic progress,
too.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
1955 The Ford Mystere concept car
1955
The Ford Mystere concept car has an exceptionally low center of gravity, with a height of only 52 inches. It features sculptured tail fins, a rear engine compartment, four headlights, a hinged glass canopy, and front bumper pods for oil cooler reservoirs.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Chicago Auto Show History in Pictures
1912
Most of the manufacturers displaying at the 1912 show are long gone.
But at least Buick is still around.
Looming over early editions of the auto show were a series of 43-foot-tall goddesses
depicted on the walls of the old Chicago Coliseum.
1936
The glamorous front-drive Cord 810 made its debut at the 1936 Chicago Auto Show.
1940
This Plymouth's power convertible top operation was mesmerizing back in 1940.
1941
The year the Chicago cops finally cracked down on women wearing short shorts and funny hats.
1953:
The 1953 Chevrolet Corvette concept car was virtually identical to the car that
entered production that same year.
1954
Cab Calloway was on hand to celebrate the appearance of the
1955 Ford Thunderbird prototype at the '54 show.
1955
The Lincoln Futura showcar made its world debut at Chicago in '55.
However, its greatest fame would come in 1966 when it was restyled as TV's Batmobile.
1956
The Dodge La Femme in girlie "Regal Orchid" over "Misty Orchid" paint
was marketed directly to women.
It turned out few women wanted a car better dressed than they were
.
1958
The all-new Edsel Citation convertible was part of the splashy "Motorevue" stage show in 1958.
It should have stayed on stage.
1959
Three Toyota "Toyopet" models made quiet, inauspicious Chicago debuts in 1959
in striking contrast to the extravagant Edsel launch the year before.
1968
Go-go boots, a plastic dress and an Olds 4-4-2...
what else do you want in a car show?
1973
The 1973 show was thick with color and hope.
But by that October, the OPEC oil embargo
had hit and the energy crisis was on.
Cadillac Cyclone, 1959
‘The Cadillac Cyclone is a concept car built in 1959 by the Cadillac Division of General Motors. The Cyclone was never mass-produced as a production model.’
A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP, 1914
“The A.L.F.A 40/60 HP was a race and road car made by A.L.F.A (later called Alfa Romeo). Its top speed was 125 km/h (78 mph). 40/60 HP production and development was interrupted by the First World War, but resumed briefly afterwards. Giuseppe Campari won the 1920 and 1921 races at Mugello with this car.”
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