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The Selene II was a dream car built by Carrozzeria Ghia in 1962 ad designed by Tom Tjaarda; it had a central driving seat and two rear seats facing backward. The Selene II was shown in 1962, built by Carrozzeria Ghia. Tom Tjaarda designed it. It swapped the six-person layout for five people – one up front in a central position and four behind, as with the Selene I. It retained the cab-forward design. The styling followed the 1950s trend for fighter jet styling on cars. Ford would acquire Ghia in the 1970s. Wanting to raise some capital, the Selene II concept was sold off in 2002 for around $88,000. Also, check out the 1959 Ghia Selene. Source: Carrozzieri-Italiani Images: Automobile Quarterly - July 1987; www.shorey.net; Christies

Debuting at the 1962 Chicago show, the Ford Cougar 406 featured top-hinged, electrically operated gull-wing doors and came equipped with the new 406 cubic inch V-8. The engine developed 405 horsepower and 448 pound-feet of torque. Swing-up headlights were concealed in the tips of the fenders. This was the second Ford concept car to wear the Cougar nameplate. The original was a 3/8-scale model from 1956. Mercury first applied the Cougar moniker on a 1967 two-door hardtop pony car based on the Mustang. The D-523 "Cougar" was an experimental Ford built on a T-Bird chassis with fuel injection. This car was designed in Gil Spear's studio in 1954, mainly by Samsen, whose original concept sketches are shown below. Source: www.chicagoautoshow.com; automobileart.homestead.com Images: Ford; www.shorey.net

The November 1962 Turin Motor Show was a momentous one for Alfredo Vignale. This was his company's first event since he and the prodigious design talent Giovanni Michelotti parted company. Michelotti had designed many innovative and beautiful cars for Vignale but had now struck out on his own. Wanting to make a splash at the show, Vignale brought along – in addition to a couple of more humdrum coach-built versions of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 2300 – a wildly experimental bit of kit: the Record Sperimentale 1000. In truth, the origins of the 1962 show car can be traced back to a perhaps better-known Vignale-built project dating from 1957, which Giovanni Michelotti had designed. This was the extraordinary Abarth 750 Sperimentale 'Goccia' ('Teardrop'). Widely viewed as inventing the 'monovolume' idea so prevalent in today's cars, it was designed to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and was based on Abarth 750 mechanicals. One of the tiny handful of examples built famously participated in the 1957 Mille Miglia race. So it was that, five years later, Vignale returned to the idea of the one-volume teardrop shape – nominally as an intended record-breaker but probably more to steal some Turin limelight. The shape was inspired by the teardrop school of thought, resulting from a series of aerodynamic studies that concluded that the falling drop of water was the most efficient in airflow. Vignale crafted a long, low, and relatively wide shape. The car's wraparound windscreen was enormous, while the glass roof prefigured the current fad for panoramic sunroofs. The headlights were faired in behind Plexiglas for smoothness of airflow, and the front bumpers were shaped like bullets. At the rear end, the tail was sharply cut off, Kamm-style, while a variety of cooling ducts were provided for the rear-mounted engine. Inside, the two-seater cabin had a futuristic, jet-age theme to it. Three gauges were set into a wooden instrument panel housed in a binnacle that extended way forwards to the windscreen's base. The seats were anatomically formed, with curious form-hugging grab handle-style extensions. The wraparound headrest (curiously, on the passenger's side only) was described as "inspired by aircraft." Behind the seats sat a spare wheel. As first presented at Turin in 1962, the Record Sperimentale 1000 had conventional wheel arches. Still, when it was shown again at Geneva in March 1963, it had been slightly modified with faired-in wheels covered by spats all round, presupresumably due to aerodynamic experimentation. Vignale claimed its Cd figure was just 0.25. As with the 1957 Sperimentale, the 1962 Record was based on the platform of the Fiat 600D, complete with its suspension and rear-engined layout. The engine itself was expanded from 767cc to 1.0 liter by the Turin-based tuning company ZM, run by Edoardo Zen, who represented the famous tuner Giannini in Turin and would later set it up OTAS with Franco Giannini. As its name clearly stated, the Record was intended to attempt to break speed records. However, no evidence appears to exist to suggest that any such record attempts were made. Source: drive-my Images: www.carsfromitaly.net; www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au; ash-institute.cats.st

Fiat 500 Ziba by Ghia 1962 is a miniature pick-up truck based on the rear-engined Fiat 500 Giardiniera (estate). Based on the Fiat 500 Giardiniera (estate), the 500 Ziba was designed by Ghia in 1962: this tiny little truck is rear-engined and rear-wheel drive. It is powered by 499.5 cc inline two cylinders, producing a whopping 17.5 hp and a top speed of 95 km/h (around 60 mp/h). Source: oppositelock.jalopnik.com Images: www.fiat500.ch

While many of the small tuning companies which rose in Italy in the 1920s, such as Siata and Stanguellini, later built complete Fiat-based vehicles, Moretti began slightly differently. Founded in 1925, it built motorcycles until WWII and built microcars powered by their own two-cylinder engines in the immediate post-war period. After launching a four-cylinder line, Moretti turned to Fiat-based cars in the late 50s and continued to build vehicles of this type until the firm closed in the late 80s. It was not only the smaller Fiats on which Moretti based its models. Fiat's entry to the grand touring car arena in the 60s was the 2300S, a Ghia-bodied coupe powered by an inline 6-cylinder dual carbureted engine. Moretti built its version, which debuted in 1962, carrying what may have been a Bertone-designed body. This sleek GT has a sharpness of line and detail typical of the best of early 60s Italian design, combined with an enhanced Fiat powertrain. Moretti developed the engine to a 2454cc capacity, and the resulting 2500SS 2+2 coupe delivered 170hp. The fully instrumented dashboard was shared with the Fiat 2300S. The richly finished interior, with deep bucket seats, front passenger footrest, grab bar, electric windows, and Borrani wire wheels, clearly expressed the concept of luxury with speed. It is believed that as few as 20 of these cars may have been built, and the number of survivors has yet to be determined. Fiat-Moretti 2300S/2500SS Coupé (Bertone), 1962-66 Fiat-Moretti 2300S/2500SS Spyder (Bertone), 1962-66 Source: www.bonhams.com Images: www.moretti-cars.net

A concept based on Fiat’s 1960s 6-cylinder flagship, with a removable roof panel. It remained a one-off. There were five concepts made: 1962 Fiat 2300 Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina 1963 Fiat 2300 Cabriolet Speciale by Pininfarina 1963 Fiat 2300 S Lausanne by Pininfarina 1964 Fiat 2300 S Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina 1965 Fiat 2300 S Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina Source: carsthatnevermadeitetc Images: Pininfarina; www.xs4all.nl

Superfast IV appeared soon after III, with the general look of its predecessor but now with four headlights minus the covers. Because Superfast II has disappeared, Ferrari historians believe that IV was probably built on the II chassis. Never shown, Superfast IV was later sold in the U.S. Source: auto.howstuffworks.com Images: Pininfarina

Superfast III made its initial appearance at the Geneva Salon in March 1962. It reverted back to wearing rear fender skirts and using retractable headlights, featured a more open greenhouse, and had a thermostatically controlled radiator cover. Source: auto.howstuffworks.com Images: Pininfarina

Kit car based on the VW Beetle, 1962–1967. At the same time, Luigi Colani advanced his plastic designs, culminating in the 1960s in his compact Colani GT sportscar, which was available as a DIY kit on a VW platform and swiftly emerged as an icon of life in the 1960s. Luigi Colani's early work culminated in the Colani GT, a compact sports coupe introduced in December 1962 in 'Automobile' magazine, which was even produced in the sixties as a kit car based on the VW Kafer platform (1,700 built). Source: www.colani.de Images: Colani Design

The German racer Kurt Lotterschmid in the late 60s and early 70s, performed on cars of his design, then he focused on tuning serial vehicles. Lotterschmid made a name for himself in the 80s by fine-tuning Mercedes - installing turbines and body kits of his production. The final recognition came to Lotec in 1990, when Mercedes turned to an independent tuner to help build an exclusive supercar for an Arab sheik. The car turned out to be remarkably harmonious and fast - the Mercedes style was guessed in a laconic appearance, and in maximum speed Lotec C1000, which developed 374 km / h, was second only to the record holder of that time - McLaren F1. Source: CarStyling Images: www.kimballstock.com

On October 15, 1997, the British Royal Air Force pilot, Andy Green (Andy Green), developed 1228 kilometers per hour (1.02 M) in a car. This was the average speed over the two runs required to register the record officially. The Thrust SSC was built by the team of Briton Richard Noble. Engineers had to work hard to get a streamlined and durable body, but the main thing is a chassis that can withstand movement at supersonic speeds. The car was powered by two Rolls-Royce Spey 202 turbojet engines from the Phantom fighter. This is the first car to break the sound barrier unequivocally. Two Rolls Royce Spey turbofan engines muscled this car past that once elusive mark with a combined 50,000 pounds of thrust. The engines burned nearly 5 gallons of fuel every second. Pilot Andy Green averaged 763.04 mph over a mile on Nevada's Black Rock dry lake on October 15, a day after the 50th anniversary of Chuck Yeager's first supersonic flight. Source: www.popularmechanics.com

Barramunda was born out of love for the car and the sea. It helps to combine the joys of driving and sliding on the water's surface. Hence the original internal structure. Each of the two rear wheels is driven by a 100-horsepower BMW motorcycle engine (with its gearbox), which frees up space between the rear wheels for a jet ski and two surfers. At the same time, the power is quite enough for a sporty ride. This vehicle "blends the passion of the automobile and the sea," according to French maker Design Performance. The company claims its 13.8-foot long "Barramunda" swallows a jet ski and two surfboards. The car is driven by two BMW 100-hp motorcycle engines, one per rear wheel, stowed inside the rear fenders to maximize interior space. The nautical theme spills over the interior, with a teak floorboard, brass fittings, and washable upholstery. Source: autopilot.kommersant.ru; Popular Science

Model "Commendatore 112i" was presented to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1993 by " Isdera " for its 10th anniversary. The model combines beautiful appearance, comfort, and impressive speed characteristics that amaze the entire automotive world. The car is perhaps one of the most exotic in the world. The maximum speed is 342 km/h, and the acceleration time of 100 km/h is less than 5 s - only "Jaguar XJ220" and "Bugatti EB110" could compete with such characteristics. Images: www.isdera.de

This van is the brainchild of American filmmaker and photographer Harold Blank, whose entire body and some of the car's interior are covered with cameras. According to Harold, this van idea came to him in 1993 in a dream, after which he went to the store and bought all the cheap cameras. For the following two years, he was engaged in design and construction. And in 1995, his Camera Van began its journey; the unit could drive and take pictures simultaneously. The front of the car is adorned with Polaroid cameras, and there are all the models this company has ever produced. On the left side, the vehicle is decorated with a mosaic of Kodak Instamatic cameras, with an installation depicting the model's gigantic camera. On the back of the car are two monitors on which slideshows of photographs taken by Cameraven are played. The four monitors on the right side of the car symbolize the film. You must be insane or bored to cover an entire van with photo cameras, but Harold Blank thinks of it as art. It all started one night in 1993 when Harold Blank had a dream where he covered his entire van with cameras. When he woke up, he thought his dream was an epiphany, so he went straight to the store and bought all the cheap cameras he could afford. Shortly after, the Camera Van was born. Blank likes to drive around the cities and take photos of people. He believes when passers-by see his creation, they are under the impression the cameras are all broken, so they act more loosely. That gives him a chance to take some great shots. The front of the Camera Van is covered with all types of Polaroid cameras, the driver's side is a mural made out of Kodak Instamatic cameras, and the passenger's side has 32-inch LCDs that look like negative frames. The back of the van has 2 LCDs of kids waving to passers-by while the word "SMILE" sits atop the car, constructed from Kodak point-and-shoot cameras. According to Google, Harold Blank's official site could harm your computer, but you can check it out if you wish. I hear he has been driving his Camera Van through Mexico and South America and hasn't updated his site in over two years. Source: odditycentral.com; kaverin.info Images: cameravan.com

The 65th Turin Motorshow (1994) was used to present a series of concepts based on the Punto. A six-wheeled pickup, the Doblone uses a second, standard Punto rear axle to increase this vehicle's load-carrying ability significantly. The fuel tank is located at the rear, allowing two rear seats to be installed, facing one another. Several variants were prosed, including a van, a people-carrier, an ambulance, etc. The results of the experiment are impressive. Several cars were presented at the Salon in Turin, developed by order of FIAT by various bodywork studios based on the small Punto used here as a fly. The poor insect turned out to be three sports coupes, a pair of hatchbacks, one roadster, an SUV, a convertible, and even a six-wheeled pickup truck that can be classified as an extended cab. This is not the first time this has happened. In 1992, body shops made fun of the new Cinquecento model., creating eight concept cars based on it. It is unknown whether at least one of the proposed nine Punto developments will be put into series. Most likely, it won't. One thing is clear - when the masters come on stage, the performance will not be dull, no matter how boring the play is. One of the funniest developments on the Punto theme was a pickup truck from Boneschi. The name, in our opinion, can be deciphered as dob, apparently, double-double and lon, most likely, long - long. The back of the Punto was first greatly elongated. Then they added a couple more wheels to the two rear ones, which Doblone turned out to be. At the same time, the front of the car and the interior were almost unchanged. During development, the emphasis was not on the increased cross-country ability of such a model, as evidenced by the dimensions and type of wheels that are not well suited for this, but on the transportation of fairly heavy loads in a reasonably roomy body on urban or rural roads. Source: www.carsfromitaly.net Magazine "Autopilot" number 003 dated 04-06-94 Images: www.carsfromitaly.net

Designed by Tom Tjaarda and assembled in Cervere, Italy. The Isotta Fraschini T12, like the T8, is an aluminum-bodied, 4-wheel drive 2+2 Spider, available with a hard-top. It was first unveiled in 1998. The T12 Coupé had a V12 engine with 400 hp. at 6000rpm, vented disc brakes, and four-wheel drive. Money was found to prepare this second, more ambitious T12 prototype with a 12-cylinder engine, which was exhibited at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. The following year, the car seemed to be brought to mind, but with a Ford V8 announced the imminent start of accepting orders, but a few months later, Isotta Fraschini SpA was declared bankrupt. unhappy end. Source: Wikipedia Images: www.automotriz.net; motorbase.com

Designed by Tom Tjaarda and revealed at the Geneva Motorshow in 1996, the new Isotta-Fraschini T8 was a 2+2 Spider with a hard-top. It used Audi A8 mechanicals, including four-wheel-drive and the same 4172cc 32-valve V8 engine, while the body was all new and made of aluminum. Production was due to be pursued at an an-ex military weapons factory in Southern Italy, but nothing appeared, and in late 2000 the remaining hardware was sold. Source: Wheels Magazine, No. 94 August 2005; motorbase.com Images: www.automotriz.net; motorbase.com

German Tilo Klumpp's asymmetric "BMW Fun Car" concept was the winner of a student competition organized by BMW in 1994. The task for the students was chosen, frankly, not an easy one because they were asked to merge the advantages of a motorcycle with the safety of a car. Source: M. Kadakov "BMW: your students, our ideas" - Autoreview No. 5 1995 Images: BMW

At the 1997 Geneva Auto Show, Gigliato Design presented a new Sportcar, the Aerosa. Automobili Lamborghini and Gigliato Design were to build this car as a Joint-venture between Japan and Europe. The engine was an exceptional 4.8 Litre Ford Mustang V8, pumping out enough horsepower for this small racecar to arrive at 100 Km/h. in less than 5 seconds. The car would be entering several races throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States, where it should have posed a threat to the McLaren F1 and Porsche GT1 racecars that dominated their classes. If this car would become a competitor for the Diablo SVR or GTR model, was yet to be seen; perhaps both cars won't compete in the same races. Nobuo Nakamura, a Japanese designer, founded the Gigliato Design studio. Gigliato sounds similar to his wife's name, while Giglio means 'Lily.' Because of the strict regulations, the Aerosa was designed outside of Japan and later imported, and a decision was made to assemble the car in England. In 1997 Gigliato announced a partnership with Lamborghini to deal with engineering, production component supply, delivery, and marketing. The plan was to sell the Japanese-designed car from a headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany. Furthermore, Gigliato announced a motorsports program for 1998, including a stop at Le Mans. At this time, the vehicle was changed to include fixed front headlights and gold wheels. The Aerosa hasn't been seen recently, so perhaps it will remain a lonely prototype, like so many Lamborghini-based dream cars in the past. Source: www.lambocars.com; www.supercars.net Images: Gigliato Design Co., LTD; Jeff Jue; www.special-classics.com

Besides building Topcat, it turns out there is still another car that is no less unique than Bill Carter ever constructed in 1987: G-WHIZ. Both are made using a Jaguar V12 engine with a radically cab-forward design. But it is slightly different because the G-WHIZ comes with two striking jet engine units in the back (it's unknown whether it also works) and is equipped with vertical and horizontal stabilizers like an aircraft. And all driveable day-to-day vehicles rather than relatively non-functional show cars. Indeed, it is hard to believe all Bill's cars have been certified for use on a public road in the UK and used by the creator for travel. Source & Images: Trussty