The Jalopy Journal

**Jive-Bomber** · 10-20-2011, 07:42 AM

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...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

scrubba · 10-20-2011, 07:59 AM

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

belair · 10-20-2011, 08:40 AM

Back when car guys ran the show, not bean-counters. Thanks for the article.

vonpahrkur · 10-20-2011, 09:16 AM

dig the steering wheel!

sololobo · 10-20-2011, 11:05 AM

Oh yeah, I would order one just like the example is fine, yes, I want the same whitewalls. RED HOT!! ~sololobo~

oldthudman · 10-20-2011, 11:28 AM

One of my favorite GM Motorama concepts..........(Others are the Cadillac El Camino and the XP-38 El Dorado Brougham concept).......

Thanks for posting!!!

flamingokid · 10-20-2011, 02:21 PM

I can't remember a GM concept car that I didn't like.

**Bigcheese327** · 10-20-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belair

Back when car guys ran the show, not bean-counters. Thanks for the article.

How is that book, anyway?

-Dave

Jkustom · 10-20-2011, 02:27 PM

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!

belair · 10-20-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigcheese327

How is that book, anyway?

-Dave

HA - I never heard of it until your link.

**HEMI32** · 10-20-2011, 03:48 PM

Jive-Bomber Jay - Cool post!

... and just 'cuz a Blog/thread can never have too many pics:

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**HEMI32** · 10-20-2011, 03:48 PM

... and checkout the 1:22 mark of this video:

50Fraud · 10-20-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigcheese327

How is that book, anyway?

-Dave

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.

bob-o · 10-20-2011, 04:07 PM

Harley Earl and his team knew a thing or two about style

goetzcr · 10-20-2011, 04:10 PM

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?

DeucePhaeton · 10-20-2011, 04:17 PM

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.

mrjynx · 10-20-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goetzcr

Anyone know if they made multiple copies or if they just painted the same car different colors?
?

it was originally painted gold for the 50th anniversary of Olds, then changed to blue, only one built.

Heo2 · 10-20-2011, 04:37 PM

and the women had clas and nice clothes. No fat tatoed
#%&&" in hogwasherpants

mrjynx · 10-20-2011, 04:43 PM

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/chevr...tte-prototype/

WaldorfNomad · 10-20-2011, 05:15 PM

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.

10-20-2011, 07:59 AM	#2
scrubba Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Richmond Va. for now Posts: 700	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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 __________________ See ya on de road folks ..........

10-20-2011, 08:40 AM	#3
belair Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brady TEXAS Posts: 4,285	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! Back when car guys ran the show, not bean-counters. Thanks for the article. __________________ Every knee will bow H.A.M.B. Chapel 322 Naihead and complete stick set-up for sale

10-20-2011, 09:16 AM	#4
vonpahrkur Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 940	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! dig the steering wheel! __________________ i need: 39-40 lincoln frnt backing plate, 32 ford 3-windo door hinges,1940 Merc parts- frnt seat

10-20-2011, 11:05 AM	#5
sololobo Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Omaha, NE Posts: 6,676	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! Oh yeah, I would order one just like the example is fine, yes, I want the same whitewalls. RED HOT!! ~sololobo~ __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-20-2011, 11:28 AM	#6
oldthudman Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 57	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! One of my favorite GM Motorama concepts..........(Others are the Cadillac El Camino and the XP-38 El Dorado Brougham concept)....... Thanks for posting!!!

10-20-2011, 07:42 AM	#1
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Moraga, Ca Posts: 2,428	1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

10-20-2011, 02:21 PM	#7
flamingokid Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Olathe,Kansas Posts: 1,079	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! I can't remember a GM concept car that I didn't like.

10-20-2011, 02:27 PM	#9
Jkustom Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: west seattle, wa. Posts: 1,557	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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! __________________ "where you goin', city boy?" "Thanks for the big burnout you done leaving JCustom,they heard it on the third floor." - Hambandy

10-20-2011, 03:48 PM	#11
HEMI32 Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 3,807	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! *Jive-Bomber* Jay - Cool post! ... and just 'cuz a Blog/thread can never have too many pics: click thumbnails to enlarge __________________

10-20-2011, 04:07 PM	#14
bob-o Grenade Inspector Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona Bay Posts: 282	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! Harley Earl and his team knew a thing or two about style __________________ RIP Larry Watson ♠Los Boulevardos♠

10-20-2011, 04:10 PM	#15
goetzcr Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 108	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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?

10-20-2011, 04:17 PM	#16
DeucePhaeton Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Grand Ledge, MI Posts: 961	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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. __________________ *Luck:* is at the intersection of planning and opportunity.

10-20-2011, 04:37 PM	#18
Heo2 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern sweden Posts: 611	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! and the women had clas and nice clothes. No fat tatoed #%&&" in hogwasherpants

10-20-2011, 04:43 PM	#19
mrjynx Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: England Posts: 883	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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/chevr...tte-prototype/ __________________ My Concept Car Gallery http://public.fotki.com/mrjynx/

10-20-2011, 05:15 PM	#20
WaldorfNomad FNG Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 13	Re: 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket! 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.

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