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- Scale Model of the Nucleon, a 1958 Ford Motor Company Styling Conception for an Atomic-Powered Car - This 3/8-scale model was built to explore how the future of energy might affect the future of automotive design. The Ford Nucleon would have been powered by a rear-mounted, self-contained nuclear reactor. This atomic-automobile idea assumed, of course, that issues with nuclear safety and the size and weight of nuclear reactors would eventually be resolved. The Nucleon was never produced.
- 1958
- Collections - Artifact
Scale Model of the Nucleon, a 1958 Ford Motor Company Styling Conception for an Atomic-Powered Car
This 3/8-scale model was built to explore how the future of energy might affect the future of automotive design. The Ford Nucleon would have been powered by a rear-mounted, self-contained nuclear reactor. This atomic-automobile idea assumed, of course, that issues with nuclear safety and the size and weight of nuclear reactors would eventually be resolved. The Nucleon was never produced.
- Press Release, "The Mustang, Ford Motor Company's New Experimental Sports Car," October 7, 1962 - While it shared its name with the popular production Ford Mustang introduced in 1964, the 1962 Mustang I was an entirely separate project. The experimental Mustang I allowed Ford to test engineering concepts and -- perhaps more importantly -- show the public that the company promoted excitement and innovation. Ford vice presidents Herbert Misch and Gene Bordinat championed the car.
- October 07, 1962
- Collections - Artifact
Press Release, "The Mustang, Ford Motor Company's New Experimental Sports Car," October 7, 1962
While it shared its name with the popular production Ford Mustang introduced in 1964, the 1962 Mustang I was an entirely separate project. The experimental Mustang I allowed Ford to test engineering concepts and -- perhaps more importantly -- show the public that the company promoted excitement and innovation. Ford vice presidents Herbert Misch and Gene Bordinat championed the car.
- Brochure for Pontiac Club de Mer and Four-Door Catalina Cars, 1956, "Pontiac Motorama Masterpieces" - From 1949 to 1961, General Motors hosted a series of semi-regular shows spotlighting futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars. In 1953, the event was named Motorama and transformed into a traveling show that toured major cities around the United States. Motorama also showcased products from GM subsidiaries, like the "kitchen of the future" equipped with Frigidaire appliances.
- 1956
- Collections - Artifact
Brochure for Pontiac Club de Mer and Four-Door Catalina Cars, 1956, "Pontiac Motorama Masterpieces"
From 1949 to 1961, General Motors hosted a series of semi-regular shows spotlighting futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars. In 1953, the event was named Motorama and transformed into a traveling show that toured major cities around the United States. Motorama also showcased products from GM subsidiaries, like the "kitchen of the future" equipped with Frigidaire appliances.
- Herbert Misch and Gene Bordinat with the Ford Mustang I Experimental Sports Car, October 7, 1962 - While it shared its name with the popular production Ford Mustang introduced in 1964, the 1962 Mustang I was an entirely separate project. The experimental Mustang I allowed Ford to test engineering concepts and -- perhaps more importantly -- show the public that the company promoted excitement and innovation. Ford vice presidents Herbert Misch and Gene Bordinat championed the car.
- 1962
- Collections - Artifact
Herbert Misch and Gene Bordinat with the Ford Mustang I Experimental Sports Car, October 7, 1962
While it shared its name with the popular production Ford Mustang introduced in 1964, the 1962 Mustang I was an entirely separate project. The experimental Mustang I allowed Ford to test engineering concepts and -- perhaps more importantly -- show the public that the company promoted excitement and innovation. Ford vice presidents Herbert Misch and Gene Bordinat championed the car.
- Brochure for General Motors Firebird III Concept Car, "Imagination In Motion," 1958 - General Motors revealed the third of its Firebird concept cars at the 1959 Motorama auto show. Driver and passenger sat beneath individual cockpit-style canopies, and multiple winglets further expressed the car's aviation theme. Power came from a 225-horsepower gas-turbine engine. The driver operated Firebird III with a single joystick that controlled steering, acceleration, and braking.
- 1958
- Collections - Artifact
Brochure for General Motors Firebird III Concept Car, "Imagination In Motion," 1958
General Motors revealed the third of its Firebird concept cars at the 1959 Motorama auto show. Driver and passenger sat beneath individual cockpit-style canopies, and multiple winglets further expressed the car's aviation theme. Power came from a 225-horsepower gas-turbine engine. The driver operated Firebird III with a single joystick that controlled steering, acceleration, and braking.
- The Story of Firebird II "Three-Zero-Four," the Gas Turbine Family Car, 1957 - General Motors debuted its jet-airplane-inspired Firebird II concept car at the 1956 Motorama auto show. The four-passenger car was powered by a 200-horsepower gas-turbine engine mounted up front. Firebird II featured independent suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels. The "Firebird" name later appeared on Pontiac's successful pony car.
- 1957
- Collections - Artifact
The Story of Firebird II "Three-Zero-Four," the Gas Turbine Family Car, 1957
General Motors debuted its jet-airplane-inspired Firebird II concept car at the 1956 Motorama auto show. The four-passenger car was powered by a 200-horsepower gas-turbine engine mounted up front. Firebird II featured independent suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels. The "Firebird" name later appeared on Pontiac's successful pony car.
- 1953 Ford Experimental Vehicle Brochure, "Laboratory on Wheels, the Ford X-100" - Ford Motor Company celebrated its 50th anniversary with the X-100, a fully functional concept car billed as a "laboratory on wheels." The X-100 featured more than 50 innovative ideas. Some of them, like the heated seats and the telephone, eventually became commonplace. Others, like the variable-volume horn and the in-car electric shaver, never quite caught on with the public.
- 1953
- Collections - Artifact
1953 Ford Experimental Vehicle Brochure, "Laboratory on Wheels, the Ford X-100"
Ford Motor Company celebrated its 50th anniversary with the X-100, a fully functional concept car billed as a "laboratory on wheels." The X-100 featured more than 50 innovative ideas. Some of them, like the heated seats and the telephone, eventually became commonplace. Others, like the variable-volume horn and the in-car electric shaver, never quite caught on with the public.
- General Motors EV-1 Catalog, "EV-1 Electric," 1996 - Car brochures have evolved from straightforward product catalogues into polished creative sales tools. Their quality paper, rich color, inventive formats, and sophisticated graphic design all contribute to a buyer's developing impression of a car in a showroom. Advertising might entice people to a dealership, but brochures extend and deepen the relationship between vehicle and potential buyer.
- 1996
- Collections - Artifact
General Motors EV-1 Catalog, "EV-1 Electric," 1996
Car brochures have evolved from straightforward product catalogues into polished creative sales tools. Their quality paper, rich color, inventive formats, and sophisticated graphic design all contribute to a buyer's developing impression of a car in a showroom. Advertising might entice people to a dealership, but brochures extend and deepen the relationship between vehicle and potential buyer.
- Sales Brochure for the Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car, 1966 - Chrysler's experiments with gas turbine automobiles hit a peak in 1963 when the company lent 50 operating prototypes to the public to gain real-world feedback. With no reciprocating parts, the turbine engine was far smoother than a piston engine. It could run on anything from kerosene to perfume. But the car's fuel mileage -- around 11 miles per gallon -- was underwhelming.
- 1966
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Brochure for the Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car, 1966
Chrysler's experiments with gas turbine automobiles hit a peak in 1963 when the company lent 50 operating prototypes to the public to gain real-world feedback. With no reciprocating parts, the turbine engine was far smoother than a piston engine. It could run on anything from kerosene to perfume. But the car's fuel mileage -- around 11 miles per gallon -- was underwhelming.
- Ford Motor Company Styling Office Brochure, "The Gyron," 1961 - Ford Motor Company revealed its Gyron concept car in 1961. Designers intended for a gyroscope to keep the two-wheeled car upright, but the technology was too expensive for a show car. Instead, the fiberglass Gyron used outrigger wheels to keep its balance while an electric motor moved it at 5 mph. The Gyron was destroyed in the 1962 Ford Rotunda fire.
- 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Styling Office Brochure, "The Gyron," 1961
Ford Motor Company revealed its Gyron concept car in 1961. Designers intended for a gyroscope to keep the two-wheeled car upright, but the technology was too expensive for a show car. Instead, the fiberglass Gyron used outrigger wheels to keep its balance while an electric motor moved it at 5 mph. The Gyron was destroyed in the 1962 Ford Rotunda fire.