In the 1950s, nobody created new concept cars like General Motors. They flat out ruled the roost when it came to producing opulent, over-the-top prototype dream cars- And they actually designed separate, one-off creations for their multiple divisions... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
You fail to mention REAL MEN Ran General motors in that era . By 1970, G M began using way too many committees , useless and redundant data and knuckled under government pressure . Today, we have Obummer motas . scrubba
Oh yeah, I would order one just like the example is fine, yes, I want the same whitewalls. RED HOT!! ~sololobo~
One of my favorite GM Motorama concepts..........(Others are the Cadillac El Camino and the XP-38 El Dorado Brougham concept)....... Thanks for posting!!!
That speedo in the center of the wheel thing is RAD! Also, did the roof panels open and close by themselves with the door opening and closing? Or did the occupants have to open the panels manually? I'd love to see how the engineered them if they were automatic!
Jive-Bomber Jay - Cool post! ... and just 'cuz a Blog/thread can never have too many pics: click thumbnails to enlarge
... and checkout the 1:22 mark of this video: <object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tUloRhQipfY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tUloRhQipfY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
It's kinda interesting, but Mr. Lutz is a little too whiny in this book for my taste. He blames many of GM's woes on the liberal press, Toyota, the government, and many others. His message about design management needing to be independent of the bean counters is right on the money, though.
Ad line: "Designed to ride right up and over pedestrians...or spear them." To my eye this looks more contemporary than 1956, even by concept standards. The profile and color look great in HEMI's posted pic #10. Nice wheel and tire treatment, too. Anyone know if they made multiple copies or if they just painted the same car different colors? Why do all the gals in the ads look so cosmopolitan while the poor motorama girl had to dress like a clown?
Back in those days each division were separate entities. Each had their own engineering, sales, production and HQs. I grew up with Oldsmobile's in the garage as my father started at Oldsmobile here in Lansing in 1948. Until Roger Smith reorganized GM in 84 or 85, into the Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac Division (BOC) and the Chevrolet, Pontiac, Canadian Division. (CPC) each were responsible for their own success. Oldsmobile sales were so good that they were 3rd in sales behind Chevrolet and Ford back in the 70s. Under the reorganized units, Olds was dealt death blow after death blow being saddled with high cost cars in each line. One that has stuck out to me (OT) is my 97 Aurora listed for nearly 40K. Ten years later the '07 Buick replacement for the line was less money. Planned for years, they didn't survive.
it was originally painted gold for the 50th anniversary of Olds, then changed to blue, only one built.
Corvette created a prototype that tried to merge the golden rocket with a 58 corvette. more image in my fotki http://public.fotki.com/mrjynx/chevrolet/corvette-prototype/
I for one am glad and grateful that GM and Chrysler are still with us and not just a memory like Packard or Studebaker or so many other fine cars from the past. If some had had their way there would be no new Corvettes, Camaros or Challengers. I don't like politics on the HAMB but I just got an opportunity to visit the GM Tech Center and I had to say something. It could have been sold off in bankruptcy. To me, these companies are veterans. If it wasn't for GM, Chrysler, and Ford we might all be speaking German or Japanese in addition to driving their cars.
Why did I think of a Karmann-Ghia when I saw those pics, maybe I need to balance my meds better.........
I disagree, the military veterans are the ones to thank so you need not speak German or Japanese. Me DSC(SW) USN, Ret.
Always loved the Olds, my first new car was an Olds 442. Hoping to use an Olds powerplant in my coupe.
I also as a retiree, am grateful and thank you for that support. Agreed! On the above subject, Had the support of GM / Chrysler not been there it's not likely any auto making in the US would have survived, domestic and import alike. Oldsmobile put out a book for their 75th anniversary that has many concept vehicles in it and one that I really like was the 1955 Delta. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=9635 and http://www.autoweteran.gower.pl/concept/1955_Oldsmobile_Delta_88.jpg
The Golden Rocket was designed by Art Ross, who ran Oldsmobile styling in the 1950s. He also did the F-88 show car. A while back I interviewed Ross' son, who told me that as a 14 year old with a learner's permit, he got to drive his date to a middle school dance in the F-88. http://www.theartofartross.com/index2.htm Art also did pinups http://www.theartofartross.com/gallery9.htm Ronnie Schreiber Cars In Depth