AUTOMOTIVE ODDBALLS

There were many novel approaches to automotive design following World War II. Some ideas were accepted, now represent the norm, and no longer seem unusual. Others were doomed by safety standards and changing technology. Some ideas were ahead of their time, and the materials available were inadequate. Then there were the bright ideas that had a fatal flaw no one thought of until it was too late and owners were swearing from coast to coast. This article looks at some of these automotive oddballs which, with two exceptions, all went into production. Among them are the Amphicar with a boat hull on a car chassis, the Citroen Sahara with a spare engine in the rear, the Ford Skyliner with a retractable hardtop, and various other models with odd features such as hydraulic windshield wipers, flexible driveshafts, pop-up turn signals, and golden windshields.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00324558
• Corporate Authors:

  Hearst Magazines

  224 West 57th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10019
• Authors:
  • Warren, P
• Publication Date: 1984-2

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: 6 p.
• Serial:
  • Popular Mechanics
  • Volume: 161
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Hearst Magazines
  • ISSN: 0032-4558

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Technological innovations; Vehicle design
• Subject Areas: Design; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387846
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-036 575
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 30 1984 12:00AM