[Shadowmuse Blown]

GM Design Unearths Stunning 1955 GMC L’Universelle Dream Van Concept Photos.
What we have here is the 1955 GMC L’Universelle, a vehicle considered an early precursor to the minivan. However, unlike the current crop of minivans, the 1955 GMC L’Universelle concept was simply dripping with style and sex appeal.
Making its debut at the 1955 Motorama show, the GMC L’Universelle included a front-mounted 287 V8 engine driving the front wheels. As such, the vehicle provided oodles of space in the rear for, well, whatever you could imagine.
The design was penned under the direction of Harley Earl and Charles Jordan, and featured gullwing doors for easy access to the cabin space, as well as a rear door section that would lift up for easy access to the cargo area.
Unfortunately, the 1955 GMC L’Universelle never made it beyond the concept stage. However, the design did provide a inspiration for production vehicles to follow, such as the Chevrolet Corvair Greenbriar.

From that shot it looks like the driver was situated on top of the front axle.

[solvegas]

GM Design Unearths Stunning 1955 GMC L’Universelle Dream Van Concept Photos.
What we have here is the 1955 GMC L’Universelle, a vehicle considered an early precursor to the minivan. However, unlike the current crop of minivans, the 1955 GMC L’Universelle concept was simply dripping with style and sex appeal.
Making its debut at the 1955 Motorama show, the GMC L’Universelle included a front-mounted 287 V8 engine driving the front wheels. As such, the vehicle provided oodles of space in the rear for, well, whatever you could imagine.
The design was penned under the direction of Harley Earl and Charles Jordan, and featured gullwing doors for easy access to the cabin space, as well as a rear door section that would lift up for easy access to the cargo area.
Unfortunately, the 1955 GMC L’Universelle never made it beyond the concept stage. However, the design did provide a inspiration for production vehicles to follow, such as the Chevrolet Corvair Greenbriar.

From that shot it looks like the driver was situated on top of the front axle.

Talk about a rough ride for the driver. 

[solvegas]

The last distinctive Studebaker built, the 1962 Avanti. afterwards Studebaker (aka Stupidbaker ) was folded into American Motors Corporation and the brand disappeared. Some consider this the first actual pony car with its high performance 283 cubic Inch V-8 appearing two years before the Ford Mustang. It simply didn't sell so many at the time, about 4600 in a three year round. Studebaker was founded in 1853 in South Bend, Indiana as a carriage maker and officially died in November of 1967. 

[MaxBigfoot]

GM Design Unearths Stunning 1955 GMC L’Universelle Dream Van Concept Photos.
What we have here is the 1955 GMC L’Universelle, a vehicle considered an early precursor to the minivan. However, unlike the current crop of minivans, the 1955 GMC L’Universelle concept was simply dripping with style and sex appeal.
Making its debut at the 1955 Motorama show, the GMC L’Universelle included a front-mounted 287 V8 engine driving the front wheels. As such, the vehicle provided oodles of space in the rear for, well, whatever you could imagine.
The design was penned under the direction of Harley Earl and Charles Jordan, and featured gullwing doors for easy access to the cabin space, as well as a rear door section that would lift up for easy access to the cargo area.
Unfortunately, the 1955 GMC L’Universelle never made it beyond the concept stage. However, the design did provide a inspiration for production vehicles to follow, such as the Chevrolet Corvair Greenbriar.

From that shot it looks like the driver was situated on top of the front axle.

Talk about a rough ride for the driver. 

Taking another look at the photo after these comments.  I'm puzzled about how it works at all.  It has a front mounted engine, front wheel drive, and the driver where he's at?  I haven't a clue how all that is packed in there.

[solvegas]

This 1934 Duesenberg is a spectacular car of its age. Duesenberg were made in Indiana, not Germany. The brothers that established the company were of German descent but were proud Americans. I find these cars beautiful, but they are now, as then, way above my pay grade. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Okay, now for 1961.  This is my favorite Imperial and my second favorite car of all time. Just full of crazy anachronistic charms.  I would love to own one of these.  Check out the headlights on stalks.  This is a ‘61 Imperial LeBaron Southampton hardtop.  Tomorrow, I’ll post the review which has light pods hanging from beneath the outrageous tail fins.  Incredible stuff.

[solvegas]

Okay, now for 1961.  This is my favorite Imperial and my second favorite car of all time. Just full of crazy anachronistic charms.  I would love to own one of these.  Check out the headlights on stalks.  This is a ‘61 Imperial LeBaron Southampton hardtop.  Tomorrow, I’ll post the review which has light pods hanging from beneath the outrageous tail fins.  Incredible stuff.

Love these cars from that era. They were distinctive from each other, had pizzazz, had personality, character and were just so great. Today's cars are mostly appliances with no real excitement about them.

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Okay, now for 1961.

As promised, here’s the tail end.  I love the huge tail fins and the way the rear lamps actually hang down on little stalks suspended in the air.  Such fun! 

[MaxBigfoot]

Okay, now for 1961.

As promised, here’s the tail end.  I love the huge tail fins and the way the rear lamps actually hang down on little stalks suspended in the air.  Such fun!

I kinda like the roof treatment, with the brushed steel over the doors. 

[solvegas]

A 1971 Mustang Mach 1 with a Cleveland 351cubic inch V-8 engine with a fastback look and one of the last high-performance Mustangs for long time since due to fuel economy standards, Air pollution regulations and the general downsizing of American automobiles, it was the last of its kind. It was huge compared to the original 1964 model but this was meant to compete against the Camaro with a big block Chevy engine, the Plymouth Roadrunner and other high-performance cars of its era. It remains a beautiful car. 

[Shadowmuse Blown]

Okay, now for 1961.

As promised, here’s the tail end.  I love the huge tail fins and the way the rear lamps actually hang down on little stalks suspended in the air.  Such fun!

I kinda like the roof treatment, with the brushed steel over the doors.

Funny you should mention that.  I’d forgotten how unusual the roof was.  My ‘59 simply had the rear portion behind the windows sweep up and over the back seats almost like a tiara.  But the ‘61 took a turn on it and had it sweep forward to take over most of the roof except for those panels over the side windows which were apparently made of stainless steel. 

Here’s a better view of it.

[solvegas]

The last great dinosaur made by Detroit, a body on frame vehicle which was the last of its kind, the B frame 1991-1996 Buick Roadmaster whose frame was initially designed in 1977 which was also shared with the Chevrolet Caprice/Impala, Oldsmobile 98/88, Cadillac Fleetwood and Pontiac Bonneville. When these vehicles were sold, the auto industry was going to the unibody construction which made vehicles lighter and more fuel efficient. The body on frame construction is much more flexible which allows for vehicles to be modified. Why do you think low riders are all body on frame construction? Or Hot Rods? And that's why pickup trucks are body on frame. They are naturally much stronger than unibody.

[Shadowmuse Blown]

They are naturally much stronger than unibody.

But lack crumple zones

[solvegas]

Back in the early 70's when I was in High School, the 1955-1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air, Caprice, Impala were considered fantastic cars because they were the first models of the era with the small block Chevy V-8 engine which was very compact and strong. This is by American standards. The Europeans thought that these engines were massive. The small block engine, with modifications and advancements of course, are still built by General Motors. This one is a 1956 Bel-Air, year I was born. 

[solvegas]

From 1968 to 1982, the bestselling and longest generation of this car, the Chevrolet Corvette, was a car I always desired but was never able to afford. This one is a 1969 Stingray convertible with a 427 cubic inch V-8 engine, the big block variant. Remains a truly iconic car and it is still an advanced looking car.