Dream Cars pt. 2

Here's the second part of my review of the wonderful exhibit, Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas. If you missed part 1 check it out here. So let's jump right in!

 

 

This is the L'OEuf électrique, designed by Paul Arzens in 1942. This 3 wheeled, "electric egg" was created by Arzens for his personal use during World War II and was the world's first bubble car. It only has a single pedal and the steering wheel. It could travel up to 60 miles on one charge and up to 37 mph. In many ways it is the precursor to the Smart Car. A very moving aspect of the idea of this car is that it was created during the German occupation of France. It not only responded to the period's shortages and rationing of gas and other materials, but it also showed that even in times of distress there was still room for fun and creative ideas.

This is the General Motors Le Sabre XP-8 designed by Harley J. Earl in 1951. This car has many advanced features that are now common place such as the now distinctive GM tinted wrap around windshield, a rain sensor which could activate the disappearing power top, electric jacks in all four corners, and heated seats. It too, like many of the concept cars made in the 1950s, was influenced by aircraft.

This is the Cadillac Cyclone XP-74, another design by Harley J. Earl, in 1959. This car was introduced at the inaugural Daytona 500 NASCAR race. The car featured proximity-sensing radar units that would scan the road and warned the driver both audibly and visually of objects in its path. It also had a panoramic bubble top that retracted fully when the doors opened or closed, and an intercom system which allowed passengers to speak to those outside the car without having to open the full canopy.

This is the Pininfarina (Ferrari) Modulo, designed by the Italian design firm, Carrozzeria Pininfarina in 1970. Around this time, automobile designers and makers were engaged in an ongoing battle to make the ultimate wedge car. This was Ferrari's contribution. To get into the passenger side, the entire cupola, including the windshield, slides along special guides. This car stands at only 37 inches high! And that wasn't even the shortest one!

This is the Lancia (Bertone) Stratos HF Zero, designed by Marcello Gandini in 1970. It stands at only 33 inches high! There are no doors so the only way to enter is through the windshield opening. You're basically laying down inside the car. Inside, occupants could only see directly in front and above. The Zero definitely won the battle of the wedges in my opinion lol.

 

This is the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model designed in 2001 by Christopher Bangle. This car is an example of a contemporary concept car. The innovative feature of this car is that its shape could change through the use of flexible tensile fabric stretched over a movable body frame of aluminum and flexible carbon fiber. Basically, the car's exterior is made of fabric. Yep, you read that right, FABRIC! While we couldn't touch the car, there was a piece of fabric on the wall that we could feel. It felt really nice lol. Also, the interior automatically responded to each individual driver. The seats, steering wheel, head rest and console would all shift into place based on the driver. And each unique driver setting would be stored into memory. How cool is that?!?

This is the General Motors Firebird XP-21 designed by Harley J. Earl in 1953. This was the last car of the exhibit and it definitely closed the show out with a bang. The Firebird was the first gas turbine-powdered car built and tested in the United States. This single-seater car was described as a, "jet fighter on four wheels". The first thing it reminded me of was the cartoon Speed Racer lol. The Firebird was first presented at the 1954 Motorama, which was an auto show staged by GM. It was a highly impractical car, but boy does it look fun!

I didn't show all the cars on display at the exhibit but these were just some of my favorites/most interesting. Like I said in the last post, I'm not that knowledgeable about cars or car history, but this exhibit has definitely peeked my interest. Many of these cars also attest to why I love vintage so much, because even 50+ years later, they're still so appealing. Oh man, if I could get my hands on a Buick Centurion or the Le Sabre, I would be one happy girl!

Which was your favorite car out of the ones listed? 

MKD