Thursday
Apr222010
The Streamlined Car of 1960 (1948)
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 5:40PM ;)
Popular Mechanics produced short films in the 1940s and 50s that showcased technology of the near and distant future. This short was released theatrically on May 21, 1948 and featured "streamlined marvels on wheels." The narrator cheerfully proclaims of the second car (pictured above), "If you're looking for a 1960 model, this may well be it!"
Clip from the Popular Science Historic Film Series DVD.
Previously on Paleo-Future:
- Dymaxion "Car of the Future" (1934)
- Personal Helicopter (1943)
- Gyroscopic Rocket Car (1945)
- Bubble-top Car (1948)
Reader Comments (17)
This is a great video. I would love that last car? Were any ever built?
what is the name of the aluminum teardrop car (the 1960 car of tomorrow)?
who built it?
does it still exist?
Thanks
mark@mbrinker.com
Sadly I don't know anything more about these cars than what's said about them in the film.
While they got the specific design wrong, I think the tendency towards smooth and streamlined designed to be very forward-looking.
To answer Will Schenk's question, the second car is a Davis. You can learn more here http://www.suarezweb.com/davis/davisnew.htm
I laughed at how wobbly the three-wheeled car was. It's also funny that the second car has so much streamlining, but doesn't have conformal headlights. Not to mention, they throw away all their aerodynamic benefits by cruising with the windows rolled down and their arms hanging out.
Bucky Fuller designed a three-wheeled car called the "dymaxion car." It was supposed to be more efficient than a regular car, but it was never manufactured because it rolled during the test and killed the driver.
The shape reminds me more of a goldfish than a teardrop.
The overall look of the top car reminds me of a 6-wheeled 20-passenger limo-van I saw at the "Museum of Emerging Science and Technology" in Tokyo. If I can figure out what the name of that was, I'll post a link.
This might have been it, though it resembles the stated car less than the image I had in my mind:
http://icon-res.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/image0019hi.jpg
Nice post. Just putting it out there, if you ever need a yacht or boat shipped, domestically or overseas, check out Yacht Exports. They are professionals at what they do. Look them up at www.yachtexports.com.
It's amazing to see how the image of a "modern" car changes over the years. I prefer these ones to some of the ones we have now!
Not too far off this really:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcdzwpVNF4
And in 2010 comes the "Nissan Juke" that looks like the 2nd model shown.
Why does the transportation for the future have to look smaller and smaller? How are we supposed to move anywhere or have anyone else in the vehicle? I still have to admit it looks pretty cool.
There was a three wheeler car sold in the UK for years called the Robin Reliant.... crazy looking car that was supposedly a right bucket to drive. One of the most famous ones is from the Only Fools and Horses tv series.
Wayne Carini of "Chasing Classic Cars" on the HD THEATRE CHANNEL recently had a Davis on one episode. He restored it and had it in a car show. It was powered by a Ford flat head V8.....
the cars are very rare and weird but for me i find it cute...