# Prototype Cars That Should Have Made It
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 7, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719 "2003-07-07T05:46:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/1 "2003-07-07T05:46:55Z")
I was digging around in some of my things and I came across pictures of the [DeSoto Adventurer](http://www.team.net/www/ktud/ghia/advent1.html) and the [Chrysler K-310](http://www.team.net/www/ktud/ghia/k310.html). Simply gorgeous cars that never saw mass production, it’s a shame, too, because they look better than most of the cars currently on the road, IMHO.
Anybody else got a favorite prototype that never saw an assembly line?
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/2 "2003-07-07T07:36:27Z")
The Aston Martin Bulldog\> [http://www.astonmartins.org/v8/bulldog.htm](http://www.astonmartins.org/v8/bulldog.htm)
and the original Porsche Boxster concept… the production version is beautiful, but the show car was perfect\> [http://speedycars.chinacars.com/wallpaper2/porsche/Porsche%20Boxster%20Concept%201993%20-%20001.jpg](http://speedycars.chinacars.com/wallpaper2/porsche/Porsche%20Boxster%20Concept%201993%20-%20001.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/3 "2003-07-07T07:47:28Z")
It wasn’t quite a “prototype,” but…the [1958 Ford “Nucleon.”](http://www.velocityjrnl.com/jrnl/1958/vmd1210ov.html)
[Cugnot’s Steam Car](http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarssteama.htm)
The [Chrystler Turbine](http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/article.html?&A=0764&P=1)
The [2003 Chevrolet Cheyenne Concept](http://www.maximum-cars.com/Cars/Car.php?carnumber=426)
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### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/4 "2003-07-07T12:17:34Z")
Regarding CONCEPT CARS…what happens to them if they don’t go into production? Do the design studios just trash them, or do the engineers get to drive them home?
I remeber a really weird looking car from the early 1960’s-it was all plexiglass! Must have been hot on a sunny day though!
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### Author:  [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/5 "2003-07-07T13:39:14Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Regarding CONCEPT CARS…what happens to them if they don’t go into production? Do the design studios just trash them, or do the engineers get to drive them home?
I watched a TV special on them before. A great many of them are destroyed. Some of the more “promising” ones are stored at a massive manufacturers warehouse that each builder keeps.
I think Ford (or was it GM? I dunno) just a few years ago sold most of their prototypes into private hands on the condition that they would never be driven. (I am unsure if they were actually rendered undriveable though).
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/6 "2003-07-07T14:56:20Z")
Say, **Ranchoth** , have you seen [this site](http://www.turbinecar.com/) on the Chrysler Turbine car? It’s got the complete engineering manual on-line!
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/7 "2003-07-07T17:11:32Z")
Come on! It’s gotta be The Homer. No question!
[http://www.grantstoys.com/homercar.html](http://www.grantstoys.com/homercar.html)
Now that should have been built. So inspiring, you can buy a model of it today!
It’s gotta be The Homer.
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### Author:  [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/8 "2003-07-07T17:59:52Z")
I’ve always thought that the[Studebaker Scepter](http://213.84.134.46/ccpa/prototyp/63stud2d.jpg) deserved a better fate than oblivion.
On the other hand, Studebaker did build the Avanti, and by so doing, have earned their place in heaven.
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### Author:  [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/9 "2003-07-07T18:21:34Z")
The Buick Wildcat was pretty neat: [http://www.trishield.com/Concepts/wildcat85.shtml](http://www.trishield.com/Concepts/wildcat85.shtml)
Nissan had a concept in the mid-late 80s that was a turbo AWD coupe that was supposedly had a really good chance to make it into production. Be damned if I can remember the name of it though.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/10 "2003-07-07T19:55:35Z")
Oddity… the page on the Wildcat says it was powered by a Buick 3.8 reworked by McLaren- but McLaren does not now have and has never had an in-house engine department; all their engines have been sourced from other manufacturers, including the TAG engines which Porsche built…
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### Author:  [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/11 "2003-07-07T21:58:48Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Rocketeer \*
> **I’ve always thought that the[Studebaker Scepter](http://213.84.134.46/ccpa/prototyp/63stud2d.jpg) deserved a better fate than oblivion.**
>
> I like it! I like it!🙂
>
> \*\*On the other hand, Studebaker did build the Avanti, and by so doing, have earned their place in heaven. \*\*
My dad had an Avanti. Very c:cool:🆒l!To bad he got rid of it before I was old enough to drive it!☹
Check [this](http://www.highoctane.co.nz/Cars/ford49.htm) out. It’s the Ford 49 concept. God I wish they’d build this car!
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### Author:  [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/12 "2003-07-07T23:15:45Z")
I have wanted to own an Avanti since I was twelve. My desires have been scorned and laughed at only to discover recently that there are others out there who recognize the beauty of the Avanti.
I know this is a hijack, but has anyone driven one? Did they have any power? Just asking because I know someday my wife will come home to find one in the driveway.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/13 "2003-07-07T23:35:12Z")
Although I’m not a Chrysler fan, [this collaboration](http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/Portofino/index.html) w/Lamborghini was pretty cool.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/14 "2003-07-08T02:37:34Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by fruitbat \*
> \*\*I have wanted to own an Avanti since I was twelve. My desires have been scorned and laughed at only to discover recently that there are others out there who recognize the beauty of the Avanti.
>
> I know this is a hijack, but has anyone driven one? Did they have any power? Just asking because I know someday my wife will come home to find one in the driveway. \*\*
Never driven one, but I’ve _never_ heard _anyone_ say that an Avanti (the Studebaker built versions, I don’t know anything about the subsequent incarnations other than the current one is a reskinned Firebird/Camaro) was a slug. _Everyone_ says that they were one of the fastest cars on the road at the time.
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/15 "2003-07-08T07:06:17Z")
I must add the [Lamborghini Canto.](http://www.calstatela.edu/student/obrenes/dreammachines/lambo/canto.htm)
Gotta love the top speed.
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### Author:  [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/16 "2003-07-08T12:26:57Z")
I’ve got to agree with **Tuckerfan** ; the DeSoto Adventurer is one of the most beautiful cars I’ve (n)ever seen.
And, the turbine cars are very cool. I never knew anyone was even working on them. (Obviously, I’m not much of a car nut.)
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### Author:  [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/17 "2003-07-08T13:19:06Z")
The Avanti had very powerful acceleration for the time: The Avanti with the R2 supercharged engine (roughly 280 hp) did 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds and 0-100 in 16.5; did the quarter-mile in less than 16 seconds. An R1 unsupercharged is something like 8 seconds 0-60.
Beefed-up Lark chassis, so it would handle something like a performance Mustang or Camaro of the mid-Sixties. Steering was described as being rather insensitive (power) or slow (manual) and the handling somewhat vague. Brakes were desribed as very good (Avanti was one of the first US cars to have front disc brakes). This is from a review in Canadian Track & Traffic, so they were probably comparing it to bigger sports cars, Healeys and the like.
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/18 "2003-07-08T13:25:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \*
> \*\*I must add the [Lamborghini Canto.](http://www.calstatela.edu/student/obrenes/dreammachines/lambo/canto.htm)
>
> Gotta love the top speed. \*\*
Yep, at 244 MPH, it’s a keeper. Don’t even bring up cars in the weanie top-speed class of 235-243 MPH.
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### Author:  [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/19 "2003-07-08T16:39:34Z")
The [Dymaxion Car](http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/car.html) would hold it’s own even by today’s standards. Bucky invented the minivan 60 years ahead of everyone else.
We wuz ripped off.
I _love_ mini-vans.
I am weird
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prototype-cars-that-should-have-made-it/186719/20 "2003-07-08T20:17:53Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bernse \*
> I watched a TV special on them before. A great many of them are destroyed. Some of the more “promising” ones are stored at a massive manufacturers warehouse that each builder keeps.
>
> I think Ford (or was it GM? I dunno) just a few years ago sold most of their prototypes into private hands on the condition that they would never be driven. (I am unsure if they were actually rendered undriveable though).
There was a similar article in AutoWeek last year or so. It was Ford that decided to make room at their in-house “museum” for their designers (wish they’d sell tickets) by selling duplicates to collectors, few of whom would want to depreciate them by driving them.
Dunno how many were ever driveable in the first place - some were only clay models, others were banged together on top of existing chassis without those messy, drippy engines and stuff. Concept cars are all about bodies and interiors, anyway.
Oh yeah, the best: The [1955 Lincoln Futura](http://www.javelinamx.com/Batmobile/futura0.htm), the only one of which was sold to Chuck Barris. He added a few gewgaws, repainted it black, and used it as the Batmobile in the '60’s TV show. The original [Pontiac Firebird](http://vintagecars.about.com/library/weekly/aa022403a.html) might have been the king of airplane-inspired tailfins, though.
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