The 1956 Buick Centurion Concept Car
Concept cars still happen today at any auto show, it is a way to see how the public reacts to a style. If its really hot, the car make become a production model. This is how the Chevrolet Corvette started and became a valued production car.
The 1956 Buick Centurion was one that almost was production. It was cool looking with large fins akin to those on the 59 Chevrolets, its roof was transparent, but its the most outstanding design feature was the TV camera mounted in the rear, which relayed a picture to a screen on the dashboard to replace the rear view mirror! To switch gears, a dial in the center of the steering wheel controlled the gear selections for the transmission. The car also had recessed headlights, uncommon for that time. When the doors were open, the front seats automatically moved forward.
The public's response was favorable at the auto shows.
- The Jet Age Car: 1959 Cadillac Cyclone
The 1950's brought in the jet age, all stemming from the German jet engines captured and copied and improved upon from 1945. Rockets and UFOs were in many ads and car design reflected this as well. Starting in 1954ish, cars started to have fins or a.