1956 Mercury XM Turnpike Cruiser

MODEL DETAILS: In April 1954 John Najjar, who was in charge of the Lincoln-Mercury Pre-Production Studio, made a proposal to build five concepts for a new four-passenger show car. One of these concepts was known as the Mandalay. The Mandalay formed the basis for what ultimately became the XM Turnpike Cruiser. Elwood Engel is credited …

1963 Chrysler Turbine Car

MODEL DETAILS: The Chrysler Turbine Car was a limited production experimental car. Although designed by Chrysler's stylists, actual construction was contracted out to the Italian coach-building firm of Carrozzeria Ghia, the same firm that constructed the ill-fated 1956 Chrysler Norseman show car. The Turbine Car was designed in the Chrysler studios under the direction of …

1956 Chrysler Norseman

MODEL DETAILS: The Chrysler Norseman was a four-seat fastback coupe built in 1956 as a concept car. Although designed by Chrysler's stylists, actual construction was contracted out to the Italian coach-building firm of Carrozzeria Ghia. Virgil Exner was the designer of the Norseman. Exner wanted maximum all-around visibility from the car's interior and he took …

1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket

MODEL DETAILS: The Oldsmobile Golden Rocket was a two-seater show car built by Oldsmobile for the 1956 General Motors Motorama. The radically styled fiberglass concept, designed to resemble a rocket on wheels, was revised several times and displayed at various other auto shows, most notably at the 1957 Paris Motor Show where it generated much …

1955 Lincoln Futura

MODEL DETAILS: The Lincoln Futura was a concept car promoted by Ford's Lincoln brand, designed by Ford's lead stylists Bill Schmidt and John Najjar, and hand-built by Ghia in Turin, Italy — at a cost of $250,000 (equivalent to $2,400,000 in 2020). The car's official public debut was on January 8, 1955 at the Chicago …

1955 Packard Request

MODEL DETAILS: The Request was a 1955 show car based on the Packard Four Hundred.WHY THIS MODEL IS FASCINATING: The Packard Motor Car Company was in financial trouble by the early 1950’s. Work was underway behind the scenes on a merger between Nash, Hudson, Studebaker and Packard at the time. During this time, many Packard …

1954 Hudson Italia

MODEL DETAILS: The Hudson Italia was a limited-production car based on the Hudson Jet.WHY THIS MODEL IS FASCINATING: The Hudson Motor Car Company was in financial trouble when the Jet was introduced in mid-1953. The Jet, while a very good car, was taller and narrower than its competition due to management requirements, giving it a …

1939 Antarctic Snow Cruiser

MODEL DETAILS: The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was a vehicle designed from 1937 to 1939 under the direction of Thomas Poulter, intended to facilitate transport in Antarctica during the United States Antarctic Service Expedition of 1939–41. The Armour Institute of Technology financed the cost and lent the vehicle to the United States Antarctic Service. Work began …

1939 General Motors Futurliner

MODEL DETAILS: The GM Futurliners were a group of custom vehicles, styled by Harley Earl for General Motors, and integral to the company's Parade of Progress—a North American traveling exhibition promoting future cars and technologies. GM sponsored the Parade of Progress and the Futurliners from 1940 to 1941 and again from 1953 to 1956. At …

1928 Porter Touring Car

MODEL DETAILS: The 1928 Porter started out as a hot rod built by Norm Grabowski. Grabowski was well known in the hot rod community and also built the "Kookie T" used in "77 Sunset Strip." The Grabowski car combined a 1924 Ford Model T touring body with a Chevy 283 V8 and Powerglide automatic transmission. …