Whether it’s a car with a real nuclear reactor in it, or a floaty, three-wheeled sedan that drives itself, designers and engineers have always been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Often with strange and bizarre results.
We love the early concept cars that optimistically showed us the future, with features that often never made it to market, or are only now starting to materialize.
The Ford Nucleon was a striking concept from 1958, featuring a miniature uranium reactor in the back that went 5,000 miles before needing more nuclear material.
The 1958 Ford Nucleon concept car. (Photo: The Drive )
Take a look at the short video below to get a sense of the optimism of the 50s and 60s, from an automotive perspective.
The 1958 Sir Vival was a crazy concept by Walter C. Jerome, which separated the passenger compartment from the drivetrain, in order to maximize passenger safety.
Walter C. Jerome with his bizarre creation.
The Ford Gyron was a concept by Alex Tremulis and Syd Mead that was shown in 1961, when excitement over space was at fever pitch. The car’s futuristic resemblance to a spaceship, and its unique gyroscope handling made it a crowd favorite.
This iconic Citroën DS with balls instead of wheels was the work of Claude Puech, the brand’s advertising director. To advertise the car’s advanced hydro-pneumatic suspension, the wheels were removed and orange ‘balloons’ were placed, floating the car on water to give a sense of its lightness and road manners.
Citroën DS floating on bright orange balls for wheels, used in a famous advertising campaign.
With the face only an alien mother could love, the 1958 Ford X2000 concept was certainly bold, but is so visually cluttered that it feels like the model Homer Simpson designed.
The 1958 Ford X2000 concept. Why was 1958 such a big year for strange concepts? Via Ford Archives.
The 1964 GM Runabout was a concept for families that featured three wheels for easy maneuvering, and two shopping carts, which seamlessly stowed in the trunk.
The Runabout was a funky little concept from GM in 1964. Via GM Archives.
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