Search Results

Chevrolet's original Nomad between 1955-57 was such a powerful design that it had spawned numerous concepts, two recently. The 1999 version is built on fourth-generation Camaro/Firebird mechanicals. Reminiscent of previous Camaro and Firebird "wagons," the Nomad features a practical tailgate, generous cargo room, and performance an SUV can only dream of. Looked at from the front, more than a hint of first-generation Corvette puts a pure Chevrolet face on the car. Timing for this Nomad couldn't have been worse, as rumors of the Gen IV F-Bodies (Camaro/Firebird) death were all but confirmed. At the 1999 Detroit Auto Show where the car debuted, the car was virtually ignored by GM's PR staff, who didn't want to give the concept too much play as its chance for production was zero. View the World's Largest Shooting Brake Archive Here (Sources Included)

In late 1966, Ford designers prepared a Mustang concept to preview some of the design updates for the 1969 model. The Mustang Mach I was a two-seat fastback with a very aggressive-looking chopped roof profile. The rear pillars featured a flip-open racing-style gas cap while larger than normal air scoops dominated the flanks. The sloped rear end included a hatchback, a feature that wouldn't appear on a production model until the 1974 Mustang II. Several of the images show conceptual drawings. One of the images states a '427 engine prepared for SHOW with four double choke Weber carbs.' It goes on to say that the front 'hood raised by remote control and electric motors.' Another image showing the rear of the trunk lid with spoiler acts as air brake: operates in 3-second cycle with two vacuum service from Cougar.' From the drawings to the actual concept, it is clear that some of the ideas were not implemented. Other design ideas that made it onto the concept, such as the quad exhaust in the rear or the side mirrors on the windows, did not make it onto production models. Source: ConceptCarz Images: Ford

Designed by Bill Thomas, the Cheetah ultimately didn’t have the market success the Cobra did, but the Cheetah’s performance was superior to Cobra at Daytona in 1964. With its fuel-injected Chevrolet Corvette engine, the Cheetah set a record-breaking 215 mile-per-hour lap at Daytona. Not too shabby on 1964 tires! So why haven’t most people heard of this car? Well, as much as Chevrolet wanted a Cobra beater, corporate shifts in management shelved the Cheetah racecar project, which resulted in only approximately 23 of these cars being produced from 1963 to 1966. One of the Cheetahs was famously driven by Elvis Presley in the film Spinout. Sources: Turnology.Com (Rob Krider 2018), Mecums Auction

The Mazda Cosmo Sport (sold overseas as the 110S) – the world's first volume production sports car powered by a two-rotor rotary engine - was unveiled to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1963. When the president of Mazda, Tsuneji Matsuda, drove the prototype into show venue it was a surprise to everyone. The Mazda Cosmo Sport featured beautiful, futuristic proportions and exceptional driving performance. It was a vehicle that clearly deserved the comment, "More like flying than driving." Source: Mazda Motor Co.

Back in the bad old days at GM, the people in charge of vehicle manufacturing had huge control over how vehicles looked. Designers knew what they wanted GM’s first crossover to look like, but in the convoluted corporate world of the 1990s, GM's manufacturing team wouldn’t give it to them. The excuse? It would have cost too much. That decision cost GM dearly… and not just in dollars. The hideous slab-sided production horror that debuted in 2001 shares little with the 1999 concept pictured here. Their proportions are completely different. The most visible alteration was to the angular roof of the concept that looked much like the production Chevrolet Equinox. If the concept had made it to production, the fate of the Aztek would have likely been much different. Instead, the Aztek earned its title as the ugliest car in the world and helped kill off the Pontiac brand. Source: OldConceptCars.com

A vehicle on which you can stamp your individuality and ingenuity. One of the plagues of square vehicles at the Tokyo show, the Open Deck is your basic four-door tall wagon melded with a short-bed pickup, with a strong measure of economy car thrown in. Its usable mini-bed can be enlarged further by lowering the rear seats and opening a rear liftgate. The interior can also be changed about like a big rumpus room, with a variety of seating positions for the pairs of bucket seats and washable floors for that easy to hose out gestalt. A 1.5-liter four-cylinder with a four-speed automatic resides under the hood, but it hardly seems to be the point. Sources: CarStyling.ru, Toyota

Ever wonder why they didn’t "el Camino" the first Celica? Obviously, they were waiting for the seventh-generation car, which gets the open-back treatment in its transformation into the Cruising Deck concept. The Cruising Deck pops off the newest Celica’s rear hatch, installs a rumble seat and a picnic-table sized rear spoiler, and heads for the sun. (Maybe that’s where the designers have been spending a little too much time…) The trucklike bed can be pulled up and fixed on to the spoiler to create a deck chair, believe it or not, and the Cruising Deck has a side-hinged tailgate for parties out of bounds. A hitch for towing watersports vehicles has been installed, too. A 1.8-liter four with 187 horsepower provides power, and a six-speed manual is the gearbox of choice. Sources: www.toyotacelicaonline.com; www.thecarconnection.com; CarStyling.ru

The Funcoupe was a concept vehicle designed at Toyota's EPOC studio by Sotiris Kovos as part of the NBC (New Basic Car) Funcars project. Rendering was done at D3 Marquettes Prototypes in France and Stola Spa and Forum in Italy. The Funcoupe was shown at the September 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show and the October 1997 Tokyo Motor Show but was not put into production. The mechanicals and chassis were shared with the Funcargo and the Funtime. Sources: Wikipedia, CarStyling.ru

The Funtime was a concept vehicle designed at Toyota's EPOC studio by Sotiris Kovos as part of the NBC (New Basic Car) Funcars project. Rendering was done at D3 Marquette's Prototypes in France and Stola Spa and Forum in Italy. The Funtime was shown at the September 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show and the October 1997 Tokyo Motor Show and put into production in late 1998 as the Vitz/Yaris/Echo. The mechanicals and chassis were shared with the Funcargo and the Funcoupe. Sources: Wikipedia, CarStyling.ru

The Funcargo was a concept vehicle designed at Toyota's EPOC studio by Sotiris Kovos as part of the NBC (New Basic Car) Funcars project. Rendering was done at D3 Marquettes Prototypes in France and Stola Spa and Forum in Italy. The Funcargo (one word) was shown at the September 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show and the October 1997 Tokyo Motor Show and put into production in late 1998 as the Fun Cargo (two words). The mechanicals and chassis were shared with the Funcoupe and the Funtime. Sources: Wikipedia, CarStyling.ru

The Ur-Roadster (which is German for “original roadster”) was created in 1990, so just one year after the launch of the Z1 - yes, that weird roadster with the doors that slide downwards. However, in terms of looks, the Ur-Roadster shows more resemblance to the BMW Z3, which launched five years later. And judging by the aforementioned side view details, it is safe to say that the Ur-Roadster has a similar, if not the same, setup. But there’s one more key information we need to know to understand this car: The powertrain. Because under that weird-looking bonnet, we will not find the 170 hp engine used in the Z1, but rather the 2.3-liter inline-four from the E30 M3, producing 220 hp. This also explains why the Ur-Roadster was often referred to as “Z1 M”… Overall, the Ur-Roadster was a concept car that grew out of the BMW Z1, with the idea behind it being the creation of an entry-level M car. Despite never being released, it still influenced the Z3 heavily, and with the release of the Z3 M, the “cheap” M car finally became a reality. Today, the fully working, drivable concept spends its time in a big underground car park in the north of Munich, along with tons of other BMW concepts, race cars, and low-mileage production vehicles - a couple of which you’ll surely see in this series at some point! Sources: CarThrottle; OldConceptCars

Inspired by F1 Cars and Group C road-going cars, the Nazca M12 featured the powerful 5 liters, 300 hp V12 engine of the BMW 850i, housed in a longitudinal mid position and connected to a five-speed ZF manual gearbox using a specially designed flange. Frame and body in carbon fiber throughout, with light alloy components as on racing cars, kept the overall weight off the Nazca M12 to around 1100 kg. The Cd was 0.26. The bonnet and boot were made in one piece, while the body dome was made of a wraparound windscreen, a rear window, and two side windows hinged to the connecting structure, joining roll-bar and windscreen, also forming the roof. This meant that the driver and passenger could therefore enjoy 360º visibility. The door opening was conventional, while the windows featured a gull-wing opening mechanism. Source: www.italdesign.it Images: ItalDesign

The development of the Nazca M12 emphasizes the technical potentials of the carbon frame and mechanics. The Nazda C2, introduced at the Tokyo motor show in 1991, was actually a race car. Compared to the M12, the engine, a 5 liter, 12 cylinder BMW unit, was powered up from 300 to 350 hp through the development of the Alpina, while work on the body reduced its weight by100 kg. The spare and stylish spirit of the M12 remained unchanged in this case, though the look was more aggressive: the track was widened, the front-end redesigned, and the wings and spoiler were made more complex to emphasize the feel of the racetrack. The front spoiler was lowered while three spoilers were added at the back to keep the car firmly glued to the road. The interior was identical to the Nazca M12, but group C car carbon fiber seats were adopted to keep the overall weight down. The Italian director Carlo Vanzina chose the Nazca C2 for a scene in his 1996 film, A spasso nel tempo, together with the Aztec and the Machimoto. The car was designed by renowned automotive engineering company Italdesign, home of Giorgetto Giugiaro, and features a similar frontal design to a BMW. The car had a top speed of 227 mph (365 km/h). Three cars in total were produced. Sources: www.italdesign.it; bmwblog.com, OldConceptCars.com, Wikipedia Images: ItalDesign

At the 1993 Formula One Grand Prix held in Monte Carlo, Italdesign introduced a new, slightly redesigned version of the C2 called C2 Spider. The car had removable glass panels instead of the semi-gullwing doors featured on the coupe, turning it into a roadster along with a modified engine cover. The removable parts were housed in the luggage compartment in the car's front and could be quickly reinstalled. A roll bar in the car's color was fitted to reinforce the chassis to compensate for the loss of removable glass panels. The intake manifold of the engine was redesigned to allow for open-air operation. The car was fitted with a 5.7-liter V12 engine shared with the 850CSi. The engine generated a maximum power output of 380 hp (283 kW; 385 PS), a 6-speed gearbox was installed instead of the 5-speed gearbox of the coupe to better cope with the increase in the power. Sources: bmwblog.com, OldConceptCars.com, Wikipedia Images: ItalDesign

Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 1986, the Eole was designed entirely by computer, bypassing the normal stages of such a car’s creation. Geoffrey Matthews, who came to Citroën from PSA-owned Chrysler UK, did the original drawings from which the computer worked. Eole was based on a CX platform and achieved a CD factor of 0,17 – approximately half of the CX thanks to fully enclosed wheels. The car was fitted with no roll, active suspension that automatically lowered the ride height at speed. Following these trials, the decision was taken to equip the CX successor with an active system. Characterized by covered wheels and large headlights, the Eole was designed as an aerodynamic estate car capable of seating four people in comfort. Hydraulics linked to the steering system allowed the wheel covers to open outward when the front wheels were turning. When steering was minimal and short, the covers remained closed at high speeds. The windows featured a small portion that could be lowered and raised independently from the larger fixed section. The large side-view mirrors obstructed aerodynamics. The interior featured a transmission tunnel separating the four seats. The tunnel was fitted with a computer, video game console, television, and stereo system for use with all passengers. The transmission was engaged via tactile identification buttons. Controls and buttons were placed on either pods on both sides of the steering wheel or on a flat panel, also housing the compact disc player. More unique was the partially-glass roof, with clear visibility over the front passengers. Based on the Citroen XM., the Eole ran entirely on computers. Engine & performance: Type: Citroen CX, 4-cylinder Capacity: 2500 cc Power: 138 hp @ 5000 rpm Torque: 211 Nm @ 4000 rpm Dimensions: Length: 4770 mm Width: 1910 mm Height: 1380 mm Wheelbase: 2850 mm Source: Citroen Eole (1986) - Old Concept Cars. https://oldconceptcars.com/1930-2004/citroen-eole-1986/ Images: Citroen; citroenet.org.uk; olsen-designs.com

The Wraith (the movie) was dreamed up featuring a mysterious character and an even more mysterious car. The Turbo Interceptor Driven by the Wraith was the Dodge M4S concept car, which cost an estimated $1,500,000. Six prop cars were built, 4 of which were dummies and were destroyed during filming. The other two built were used as stunt cars. Source: CarStyling.ru

The Consulier GTP, conceived by Warren Mosler in 1985, was a 2200 lb (998 kg) mid-engined sports car built in two series. The first series sold about 70 copies and was powered by a Chrysler 2.2 I4 Turbo II engine producing 175 hp (130 kW). The second series used the improved Turbo III version of the same engine, which produced 190 hp (141 kW) and had a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h). Most mechanical components were also sourced from Chrysler. The chassis was a unique fiberglass-and-foam monocoque, the first carbon fiber and Kevlar-bodied vehicle ever to be produced with no structural metal in the body. The GTP Sport was the base model, with the GTP LX adding luxury features such as Recaro seats, VDO instrumentation, Fittipaldi wheels, Alpine sound system, sunroof, leather upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control, power locks, power mirrors, power windows, tilt steering wheel, and wool carpet; options included a security system and car phone. Both versions had full instrumentation, in a plain flat-black panel, with eleven gauges in two sizes. The GTP was successful in IMSA racing for six years. However, its excellent power to weight ratio, responsible for its success, effectively made the car unbeatable; IMSA eventually saddled the car with a 300-pound weight penalty before being banned entirely in 1991. Somewhere between 60 and 100 Consulier GTPs were built. After Consulier Industries spun off into Mosler Automotive, a few cars were produced as hybrids between the GTP, Intruder, and Raptor. Some were modified to accept longitudinal Chevrolet small-block V8 engines, eventually being used in the Intruder and Raptor. Two separate companies also modified the GTP and installed electric drive components; a company named Solar Electric advertised their version in print ads featuring Leslie Nielsen and sold the vehicles through Neiman Marcus. Manufacturer Consulier Industries Mosler Automotive Production 1985–1993 (Consulier GTP) 1993–2000 (Mosler Intruder/Raptor) Class: Sports car Body style 2-door coupé 2-door targa Layout: Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive Engine 2.2 L Turbo II & Turbo III I4 5.7 L LT1 V8 6.3 L small-block V8 Dimensions Wheelbase 2,540 mm (100 in) Length 4,369 mm (172 in) Width 1,829 mm (72 in) Height 1,130 mm (44.5 in) Curb weight 998 kg (2,200 lb) (GTP) & 1,258 kg (2,773 lb) (Raptor) Successor: Mosler MT900 Source: Wikipedia Images: Bring a Trailer; Wikipedia

DRAG-U-LA, along with the Munster Koach, was one of two cars on the television show The Munsters designed by prolific show car designer Tom Daniel while working for George Barris and Barris Kustom Industries. On The Munsters television series, the car was created by Grandpa Munster so he could win back the Munster Koach, which Herman had lost in a drag race in the episode "Hot Rod Herman". The 1966 movie “Munster, Go Home!” features an alternate origin. After Herman crashes a Jaguar limousine owned (and raced) by the Munster family of England, Grandpa builds the DRAG-U-LA, using the motor from the Munster Koach, so Herman can drive it in a cross-country automobile race. Sources: Wikipedia, Pinterest, @mecum_auctions

The Munster Koach is the family car that was used in the television series, The Munsters. The show's producers contracted George Barris to provide the Koach. Barris paid show car designer Tom Daniel $200 to design the car, and had it built at Barris Kustoms, first by Tex Smith, but finished by Dick Dean, his shop foreman at the time. The Munster Koach appeared in over twenty episodes throughout the series' two-year run and was also seen in Munster, Go Home! using different wheels. Tom Daniel's original drawing of the Munster Koach had it supercharged with a hood scoop and thin, round disc lights. Barris chose the ten-carburetor setup with the ten air horns and lantern lights. • • • • • #storycars #dragula #themunsters #themunstersfamily #munster #dragrace #dragcar #grandpamunster #tomdaniel #georgebarris #conceptcars #conceptcar #munsterkoach #rarecar #rarecars #barriskustoms #carlifestyle #musclecar #musclecars #driveclassic #munsterkoach #halloween #spookyseason #edbarris ▪️Send a direct message for credit or removal requests (no copyright intended). All rights and credits are reserved to the respective owner(s).▪️ 📚: Wikipedia 📸: Pinterest

Renault's first collaboration with coachbuilder Ghia is the development of a sports coupe based on the standard Renault R8 base. The car is kind of a reference to the pre-war design of Jean Bugatti's cars. Sources: CarStyling.ru, popmech.ru