Bleach posted this in the days gone by thread. Prototype? Custom? Anymore pics of the front, sides? Whatsit? And please don’t say it’s a dodge !! Lol
Well, the pic is dated 1956, the 'plate' on the clay model is '58, and the crossed flags and 'Corvette' script below the split window pretty obviously makes it a proposal for the '58 'vette...
The car in the first picture is not the car in the Oldsmobile pictures. Look again...carefully, this time.
it's a Corvette styling exercise, from the mid 50s, that had some ideas stolen by Oldsmobile. Or vise versa.
That, is a 1958, O'myF'nGodMobile. Normally, I would't use such language, but it's necessary in this case. Lets just all be happy, it never made it into production, like most of them did't for obvious reasons. But, some of it's "features" did make it to production; a split window Vette in 58? I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
The Olds and Pontiac divisions were always lobbying GM to let them have a "Corvette" of their own to get potential customers into the showrooms. GM wouldn't relent as they felt it would dilute and diminish the brand. They were probably right. Maybe this styling exercise was an attempt to placate the other divisions, in essence make them feel that their styling cues were getting incorporated into the Chevy Corvette in some fashion. Who knows what was going on in the minds of upper level management at the time. Would a Corvette of their own ultimately saved Olds and Pontiac, doubtfully . It may have in time been the downfall of the Corvette itself.
Interesting that there is a '56 Nomad in the same room. The styling exercise has some Nomad cues with the trim pieces located below the abbreviated rear bumper.
Sure looks to me like the designers of the 61-63 T-Bird were inspired, at least in part, by the profile of this car!
Could very well be the case. Corporate spies were everywhere always trying be one-up on the competition.
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