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Motorama: GM's Legendary Show & Concept Cars
This is a print on demand (POD) book with color photos. The paper and photo quality in this book, although good, often does not match the original version but the information remains the same.
In an age of unbridled American enthusiasm and towering industrial might, the GM Motorama was a dazzling and elegant show that was unlike any automotive event before it or since. General Motors staged extravagant and elaborate Motorama shows that rivaled some fashion shows. It showcased some of the most revolutionary and innovative prototype and dream cars ever built. And it captured the imagination of the car-buying public from 1950 to 1961.
Motorama expert and experienced author David Temple has comprehensively researched the show, the cars, and the personalities to create a fascinating new story with many new photos of these magnificent cars. Because television was in its infancy, GM's President Alfred Sloan believed that the Motorama was the most effective way to market GM products and design prowess. Legendary stylist Harley Earl led a talented group of designers and engineers to dream up, style, and develop some of the most remarkable prototype cars of all time. While current production Buick, Chevy, Cadillac, and Pontiac cars were showcased, the bold, radical, awe-inspiring prototype and dream cars stole the show. These included the GM Le Sabre, replete with aerospace design and an aluminum engine; the fiberglass-bodied Corvette dream car, which went into production after overwhelmingly positive response; and the jet engine-powered Firebird. Temple goes into fascinating detail on the body, frame, engine, drivetrain, and all the special features of each model. He has also retraced the ownership histories of some of these cars.
Within the pages of this volume, you get to relive this glorious era of automotive history and revisit the advanced show cars that inspired so many new models. This book features fascinating period photography of Motorama cars at the show, in development, and at different locales. No other automotive show rivaled the Motorama for stunning productions and awe-inspiring cars, which makes this a must-have book.
This book is a 2015 International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC) Silver Medal Winner.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Chapter One:
Origins of the Dream Car and the GM Motorama
The Beginning
Harley J. Earl: Styling Engineer and Master Showman
The Modern Concept Car is Born
Projects XP-8 and XP-9
The Grand Spectacle
Chapter Two:
Transportation Unlimited and the Mid-Century Motorama
Transportation Unlimited
Mid-Century Motorama
GM Canada at the CNE, 1951–1952
Chapter Three:
The 1953 GM Motorama
Chevrolet Corvette: An American Sports Car
The Parisienne: A Formal Pontiac
Oldsmobile Starfire: Excitement Abounds
Buick Wildcat: Trial Flight in Fiberglass
Cadillac Orleans: Ultra-Luxurious Forerunner to the Eldorado Brougham
Cadillac Le Mans: A Sporty Luxury Car
Other Special Displays of the 1953 GM Motorama
Chapter Four:
The GM Motorama of 1954
Chevrolet Corvette: In the Spotlight
The Nomad: A Two-Door Wagon
Chevrolet Corvair: Sleek Styling
Corvette with a Hardtop
Pontiac Bonneville Special and Strato-Streak: A Racy Sports Car and a Sport Sedan
Oldsmobile Cutlass and F-88: Sleek Sports Cars
Buick Landau and Wildcat II: Going Retro and Going Wild
Cadillac Park Avenue, La Espada, and El Camino: Links in the Chain
GM Firebird I: Turbine Research
Other Notable Show Cars of the 1954 GM Motorama
Oldsmobile Skylark and Eldorado: Updated
Chapter Five:
The GM Motorama of 1955
Chevrolet Biscayne: From Show Car to Junk to Show Car
Pontiac Strato-Star: A Radical Design
Oldsmobile 88 Delta: Daring Departure
Buick Wildcat III: A Man’s Car
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: Steel-Bodied Prototype
GMC L’Universelle: A Practical Cargo Vehicle
GM LaSalle II: Advanced V-6 and a Story of Recovery
Other Notable Show Cars of the 1955 GM Motorama
Chapter Six:
The GM Motorama of 1956
Chevrolet Corvette Impala: Five-Passenger Luxury Sport
Pontiac Club de Mer: Real Potential?
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket: Aptly Named
Buick Centurion: Innovative Predictor of the 21st Century
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: Publicity Prototype and Town Car
Cadillac Castilian, Gala, Maharani, and Palomino: The “Mood Cars”
GM Firebird II: Next Generation
Other Notable Exhibits of the 1956 GM Motorama
Chapter Seven:
The Final GM Motoramas
GM Canada Motorama
1959 Motorama
1961 Motorama
1958 GM Firebird III
1959 Cadillac Cyclone
Chapter Eight:
Modern Concept Cars
2003 Cadillac Sixteen
2007 Chevrolet Volt
2008 Buick Riviera
2012 Cadillac Ciel
2013 Opel Monza
2013 Cadillac Elmiraj
2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2015 Cadillac ATS Prototype
Appendix A:
Number Built and Status of the Motorama Show Cars
Appendix B:
Motorama Dates and Locations
Index
This is a print on demand (POD) book with color photos. The paper and photo quality in this book, although good, often does not match the original version but the information remains the same.
In an age of unbridled American enthusiasm and towering industrial might, the GM Motorama was a dazzling and elegant show that was unlike any automotive event before it or since. General Motors staged extravagant and elaborate Motorama shows that rivaled some fashion shows. It showcased some of the most revolutionary and innovative prototype and dream cars ever built. And it captured the imagination of the car-buying public from 1950 to 1961.
Motorama expert and experienced author David Temple has comprehensively researched the show, the cars, and the personalities to create a fascinating new story with many new photos of these magnificent cars. Because television was in its infancy, GM's President Alfred Sloan believed that the Motorama was the most effective way to market GM products and design prowess. Legendary stylist Harley Earl led a talented group of designers and engineers to dream up, style, and develop some of the most remarkable prototype cars of all time. While current production Buick, Chevy, Cadillac, and Pontiac cars were showcased, the bold, radical, awe-inspiring prototype and dream cars stole the show. These included the GM Le Sabre, replete with aerospace design and an aluminum engine; the fiberglass-bodied Corvette dream car, which went into production after overwhelmingly positive response; and the jet engine-powered Firebird. Temple goes into fascinating detail on the body, frame, engine, drivetrain, and all the special features of each model. He has also retraced the ownership histories of some of these cars.
Within the pages of this volume, you get to relive this glorious era of automotive history and revisit the advanced show cars that inspired so many new models. This book features fascinating period photography of Motorama cars at the show, in development, and at different locales. No other automotive show rivaled the Motorama for stunning productions and awe-inspiring cars, which makes this a must-have book.
This book is a 2015 International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC) Silver Medal Winner.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Chapter One:
Origins of the Dream Car and the GM Motorama
The Beginning
Harley J. Earl: Styling Engineer and Master Showman
The Modern Concept Car is Born
Projects XP-8 and XP-9
The Grand Spectacle
Chapter Two:
Transportation Unlimited and the Mid-Century Motorama
Transportation Unlimited
Mid-Century Motorama
GM Canada at the CNE, 1951–1952
Chapter Three:
The 1953 GM Motorama
Chevrolet Corvette: An American Sports Car
The Parisienne: A Formal Pontiac
Oldsmobile Starfire: Excitement Abounds
Buick Wildcat: Trial Flight in Fiberglass
Cadillac Orleans: Ultra-Luxurious Forerunner to the Eldorado Brougham
Cadillac Le Mans: A Sporty Luxury Car
Other Special Displays of the 1953 GM Motorama
Chapter Four:
The GM Motorama of 1954
Chevrolet Corvette: In the Spotlight
The Nomad: A Two-Door Wagon
Chevrolet Corvair: Sleek Styling
Corvette with a Hardtop
Pontiac Bonneville Special and Strato-Streak: A Racy Sports Car and a Sport Sedan
Oldsmobile Cutlass and F-88: Sleek Sports Cars
Buick Landau and Wildcat II: Going Retro and Going Wild
Cadillac Park Avenue, La Espada, and El Camino: Links in the Chain
GM Firebird I: Turbine Research
Other Notable Show Cars of the 1954 GM Motorama
Oldsmobile Skylark and Eldorado: Updated
Chapter Five:
The GM Motorama of 1955
Chevrolet Biscayne: From Show Car to Junk to Show Car
Pontiac Strato-Star: A Radical Design
Oldsmobile 88 Delta: Daring Departure
Buick Wildcat III: A Man’s Car
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: Steel-Bodied Prototype
GMC L’Universelle: A Practical Cargo Vehicle
GM LaSalle II: Advanced V-6 and a Story of Recovery
Other Notable Show Cars of the 1955 GM Motorama
Chapter Six:
The GM Motorama of 1956
Chevrolet Corvette Impala: Five-Passenger Luxury Sport
Pontiac Club de Mer: Real Potential?
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket: Aptly Named
Buick Centurion: Innovative Predictor of the 21st Century
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: Publicity Prototype and Town Car
Cadillac Castilian, Gala, Maharani, and Palomino: The “Mood Cars”
GM Firebird II: Next Generation
Other Notable Exhibits of the 1956 GM Motorama
Chapter Seven:
The Final GM Motoramas
GM Canada Motorama
1959 Motorama
1961 Motorama
1958 GM Firebird III
1959 Cadillac Cyclone
Chapter Eight:
Modern Concept Cars
2003 Cadillac Sixteen
2007 Chevrolet Volt
2008 Buick Riviera
2012 Cadillac Ciel
2013 Opel Monza
2013 Cadillac Elmiraj
2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2015 Cadillac ATS Prototype
Appendix A:
Number Built and Status of the Motorama Show Cars
Appendix B:
Motorama Dates and Locations
Index
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