The auto industry is always coming up with innovative models that push the limits of technology and design, most of which begin life as concept cars before going into full production. For every revolutionary and practical concept like the hatchback or the minivan, there are dozens of significantly stranger ideas that often never make it to market. Here are 10 of our favourites. Imagine what could have been (but, thankfully, wasn’t).
1. Convair 118 ConvAIRCAR, 1947
The stuff of science-fiction for generations, the flying car was, for a very brief moment in 1947, a working reality. The ConvAIRCAR was little more than a regular car with a detachable propeller and wings, but it did actually fly. Regrettably, the sole prototype crashed before it could really (ahem) take off. Perhaps it was for the best; imagine changing a flat at 30,000 feet.
2. Aurora safety car, 1957
Incorporating then-revolutionary technology like seat belts, a roll cage and side-impact beams, the Aurora never really caught on with Detroit. Was it the hefty $12,000 US price tag? The quirky scoop-like, pedestrian-catching hood? The 180-degree swivelling seats? Its, uh, “distinctive” silhouette? The fact that it broke down 15 times on the way to its own media launch? All of the above.
3. Ford Nucleon, 1957
Nuclear fusion: The ultimate alternative fuel! A now-hilarious relic of 1950s America’s fascination with all things atomic, the uranium-powered Nucleon was expected to completely revolutionize driving—Ford’s engineers figured it could go about 8,000 kilometres between recharges. But what of the radiation, you ask? Fear not! The Nucleon’s extreme cab-forward design, coupled with a few inches of good old Detroit steel, would keep any stray neutrons safely at arm’s length. Somewhere, Al Gore just blew his mind.
4. Ford Seattle-ite XXI, 1962
If four wheels are good, six wheels must be great, right? Unveiled at the 1962 World’s Fair (sadly, only in 1/38 scale), this forward-thinking sedan had it all and then some: Four front wheels for improved braking and handling, fuel-cell technology, fingertip steering, a “travel computer” (basically a self-scrolling map) and a detachable engine compartment. Really, what’s not to like?
5. General Motors Runabout, 1964
While this spacey, needle-nosed commuter hatchback had just three wheels (one in front, two in the back), it was easy to park, could seat two passengers and had plenty of storage room. Best (and weirdest) of all, it came equipped with its own pair of built-in shopping carts. Why? Why not?
6. Carver One, 2003
Carver’s breathless promotional literature says it all: “Steer it like a car, and it banks like a motorcycle!” While we’ll admit that this three-wheeled car/motorcycle cross with its tilting jet fighter-esque cockpit goes fast (top speed: 185 km/h) and looks pretty cool doing it, it’s essentially a motorbike with training wheels.
7. Toyota PM, 2003
Toyota loftily claimed this “personal mobility vehicle” would “create a feeling of unity between the driver and the vehicle.” The upside: It ran on electricity, featured keyless, push-button starting, and its single-occupant cockpit could lower to the ground at high speeds for improved handling and reduced drag. The downside: It looked like a futuristic go-kart.
8. Rinspeed Splash, 2004
Sports cars and hydrofoils, together at last! With impressive performance stats—0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds; top speeds of 200 km/h (land) and 40 knots (water)—and gloriously cheesy styling, this speedy, transforming dynamo is just the ticket for that hard-to-buy-for Bond villain on your list.
9. Commuter Cars Corporation Tango T600, 2004
This impossibly tiny, George Clooney-endorsed electric wonder – 2.5 m long by less than 1 m wide – was touted by its manufacturer as the solution to gridlock. Admittedly, the Tango’s extreme narrowness makes darting in and out of tight spots incredibly easy, and parking is a snap (it takes up about one-quarter of a conventional parking space). However, it also looks like the sort of thing you’d expect 10 clowns to pile out of at the circus.
10. Changfeng Rhombus, 2007
Built on a diamond-shaped chassis with one wheel at each corner, the hideous Rhombus swaps esthetics for potentially great cornering ability, thanks to its short turn radius. Built by a former Chinese military contractor that now makes SUVs for the civilian market, the Rhombus also sports an interior made from hemp. Insert your own joke here.
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