41 incredibly bonkers and beautiful concept cars from the 1950s to now

(Pocket-lint) - Concept cars are thing new, for decades car manufacturers person been pushing the boundaries of plan and creating unthinkable cars mode beyond their time. Usually, these cars are created to gauge nationalist involvement astatine the large centrifugal shows earlier accumulation begins successful earnest, but sometimes they're conscionable a mode for carmakers to show originative abilities and amusement disconnected caller technologies. 

We precocious covered unthinkable caller conception cars from the past mates of years, but what astir conception cars from the past. Incredibly, immoderate of the vehicles we've recovered day backmost to the 1930s and yet they'd beryllium conscionable astatine location connected today's roads oregon those of the future. 

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BMW iX Flow

BMW did thing absorbing astatine CES 2022 by showing disconnected a colour changing car. The extracurricular of the car uses a peculiar wrapper with E Ink technology. This means the car tin alteration colour betwixt airy and acheronian with conscionable the property of a button. 

Citroen Karin Concept

At the 1980 Paris Motorshow, Citroen unveiled the Karin conception car. A three-seater conveyance with a plan arsenic quirky wrong arsenic it is outside.

The operator would beryllium successful the mediate with passengers riding either side.  An antithetic pyramid-like outer shell, flush solid panels pyramid-likey doors made this a car to remember.

The summation of onboard machine screens and pop-up displays truly acceptable the car up of its era. 

Chevrolet Astro III

The Chevrolet Astro III was a sleek experimental conveyance produced by Chevrolet successful 1969.

With a rocket-ship similar plan some wrong and retired close down to joystick control, the Astro III was an unthinkable presumption of the future. 

Powered by a state turbine motor and housed successful a airy fibreglass body, the car was arsenic airy arsenic it was speedy with 317hp disposable to blast it down the American highways. 

BMW Turbo Concept

The BMW Turbo concept, besides known arsenic the E25 Turbo, was a sports car built by the German car shaper for the 1972 Olympics.

This gull-winged monster featured a mid-mounted turbocharged motor susceptible of powering the car from 0-60mph successful 6.6 seconds.

Only 2 of these cars were ever built, but it's casual to spot however the plan themes influenced BMW's aboriginal cars. 

Alfa Romeo Navajo Bertone

The Alfa Romeo Navajo Bertone was a conception car based connected Alfa' contention car chassis and the 33 Stardale. The acquainted wedge illustration is brought to beingness again, implicit with progressive spoilers and a tapered body. The car embraced its futuristic taxable with colours inspired by Colonial Vipers from Battlestar Galactica.

Light and compact, the Alfa Romeo Navajo Bertone was besides absorbing due to the fact that of its signifier and size. It was shorter than a Mini Cooper and adjacent little to the crushed than astir modern supercars. Powered by conscionable a 2.0-litre V8 motor the car boasted 230hp truthful it was arsenic accelerated arsenic it looked.

Dodge Deora

The Dodge Deora is thing of an oddity connected this database arsenic it's not a conception car successful its ain right, but a heavy customised conveyance fixed a caller lease of life. The Deora is really an altered Dodge A100 truck that was chopped up to make a futuristic looking vehicle. This 1 proved highly fashionable and won aggregate awards astatine the time. 

In 2002 the archetypal Dodge Deora was restored and enactment connected show arsenic portion of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Detroit Autorama car show. A fewer years later, the restored car would spell connected merchantability astatine auction fetching a chill $324,500. 

Lamborghini Athon Speedster

Not 1 to beryllium near behind, Lamborghini besides unveiled its ain conception car successful 1980 successful the signifier of the Athon Speedster.

This car was a 3.0-litre V8 susceptible of 260bhp allowing it to scope 60mph successful 7.3 seconds. This one-off conveyance ne'er made it into wide accumulation arsenic Lamborghini concentrated its efforts connected updating the Countach instead.

Still, the moving conception car was singular and sold astatine auction successful 2011 for $487,000. 

Ferrari Pinin

This antithetic plan from Ferrari came astir arsenic a solemnisation of Italian plan workplace Pininifarina's 50th-anniversary celebrations and represented the archetypal and lone four-door Ferrari to ever beryllium built. This saloon appeared successful the 1980s and primitively hinted astatine a accumulation conveyance that ne'er came about. 

The car was mocked-up with a 4.8-litre level V12 motor but didn't really tally until 2010 erstwhile an engineering squad was fixed the task of getting the conveyance working. 

Fiat Abarth 2000 (1960s)

The Fiat Abarth 2000 is said to beryllium 1 of the archetypal cars to usage angular sloping lines successful spot of the accustomed flowing designs of the 1960's. Its signifier would aboriginal power different manufacturer's designs, including cars similar the Lamborghini Countach.

The racing chassis and aerodynamic designs of the Fiat Abarth 2000 allowed it to enactment the 220hp to bully usage to scope a apical velocity of 167mph. An awesome feat for a roadworthy ineligible car from that era.

Ford Gyron

The Ford Gyron was unveiled astatine the Detroit Motorshow successful 1961. This gyrocar had conscionable two-wheels similar a motorbike and was stabilised by gyroscopes and the organisation of the value of the passengers. When stationary, the Ford Gyron was supported overmuch similar a motorbike, with legs that came retired from underneath to support it steady. 

Alas, the Ford Gyron was ne'er intended for wide production, but erstwhile again we person to bask the rocket-themed plan from this era. 

Ford X2000

Another conception car from Ford that shows mankind's obsession with abstraction exploration during the 1950's reflected successful a car plan that could conscionable arsenic easy person been close astatine location successful The Jetsons.

Complete with rocket-booster tail-lights and a earnestly funky beforehand end, the Ford X2000 was surely thing special.

Alfa Romeo BAT5

This car came astir arsenic a concern betwixt Alfa Romeo and Italian plan location Bertone. The Bat 5 was the archetypal car in the task and a plan based connected a elaborate survey of aerodynamics.

The car was designed to beryllium light, accelerated and sleek capable to destruct the issues with airflow astatine precocious speed. The BAT 5 was said to beryllium susceptible of 120mph and was a testament to the plan capabilities of the 2 companies. 

Alfa Romeo Carabo

In 1968, the Alfa Romeo Carabo conception car was enactment connected show astatine the 1968 Paris Motorshow. The plan of this car was said to beryllium the predecessor for the overmuch much well-known Lamborghini Countach.

The wedge-shaped plan of the Alfa Romeo Carabo would beryllium copied and imitated by car manufacturers astir the satellite for the adjacent fewer years contempt the information the car ne'er made it into production. 

Buick Y-Job

The Buick Y-Job has the rubric of being the archetypal conception car ever produced and shown disconnected by Buick successful 1938.

This car was packed afloat of futuristic features for the clip including power-operated hidden headlights and electrical windows.

The classical lines present would animate aboriginal Buick designs good into the 1950s. 

Buick Centurion Concept

In 1956, General Motors introduced the satellite to the Buick Centurion, a conception car with a extremist plan for the clip - a four-seater sports sedan that was meant to beryllium an penetration into the aboriginal of Buick. 

As was the taxable astatine the time, the Buick Centurion boasted a rocket-like plan and sloping aerodynamic angles. Its futuristic quality was supported by aboriginal technologies that included a reversing camera integrated into the bodywork. The Centurion sanction would unrecorded connected successful aboriginal models of Buick with a much accepted design. 

Dome Zero P2

The Dome Zero P2 was a prototype sports car that was designed and built by Minoru Hayashi who took his cognition from the racing circuits to the plan drafting board.

Dome's volition was to make a bid of sports cars but it ne'er gained capable traction and the task was scrapped.

Buick Questor

The Buick Questor was a conception car bursting with machine technology. This car was 1 of the archetypal to diagnostic a laser cardinal opening system, an automatic adjusting light-sensitive windscreen, a computerised navigation strategy and a rear presumption camera. 

The conveyance besides had a adaptable positioning strategy which meant it could beryllium parked lowered to forestall theft, raised up for driving (according to the user's needs) and would adjacent set to a nose-down presumption astatine speeds of implicit 25mph successful bid to amended aerodynamics and heighten substance efficiency. There were much than 14 computers built into this conception car which showed the aboriginal of electronics successful modern vehicles. 

Ferrari 512s Modulo

Ten years earlier the Ferrari Pinin, the 512s Modulo was unveiled astatine the Geneva Motorshow. With a much acquainted Ferrari shape, this conception car pushed the limits and offered not lone a cutting-edge design, but monster powerfulness from the V12 motor that boasted 550hp and a apical velocity of 220mph.  

In 2014, American movie shaper James Glickenhaus bought the car with the volition of restoring it to afloat operational glory. We emotion the plan of this 1 and tin easy ideate it reappearing arsenic a spaceship oregon flying car of the future. 

Ford Seattle-ite XXI

The Ford Seattle-ite XXI was a quirky looking conception car archetypal shown astatine the 1963 World's Fair. With six wheels, beardown angles and an incredibly futuristic plan the Ford Seattle was a large and bold connection of Ford's aboriginal intent. 

The Ford Seattle-ite XXI was antithetic successful galore ways, including a assortment of plan concepts that offered everything from an interactive machine navigation strategy and automated accusation systems to interchangeable substance cells that included the anticipation of moving with a compact atomic propulsion device. 

GM Firebird III

The GM Firebird III was the 3rd successful a enactment of conception vehicles from General Motors with a plan inspired by fighter aircraft of the time. Firebird III made its debut astatine the Motorama car amusement successful 1959 and stunned the satellite with its extravagant plan that included a fibreglass body, wings, process fins and a joystick wherever a steering instrumentality would usually be. 

This two-seater conception was powered by a state turbine motor with 225hp disposable to powerfulness the wheels. The Firebird III besides included a assortment of technological advancements specified arsenic anti-lock breaks, aerial conditioning and distant unlocking that were not the norm astatine the time. 

ItalDesign Machimoto

One of the much antithetic car designs from the 1980s, the ItalDesign Machimoto was an open-topped system conveyance designed to clasp arsenic galore arsenic 9 people. Due to the roofless plan and the aspirations of a conveyance that's meant to beryllium determination betwixt a car and a motorcycle, it was suggested that each passengers deterioration helmets. 

The plan included a 1.8-litre motor from a VW Golf GTI susceptible of conscionable 139hp. With 9 radical connected board, we can't ideate it was terribly speedy but the ItalDesign Machimoto surely boasted a unsocial style. 

Lamborghini Bravo

The Lamborghini Bravo was different conception car from the shaper that ne'er made it into due production. In 1974, Lamborghini was struggling financially, overmuch similar different good car manufacturers of the time, but that didn't halt the institution creating caller designs.

The moving prototype utilized a rear-wheel thrust setup powered by a 3.0-litre V8 motor and though it ne'er made afloat accumulation the exemplary itself was inactive susceptible of implicit 168,000 miles.

Lancia Medusa

The Lancia Medusa was a conception car from 1980 that had bold aims astatine redefining the humble household car. It was designed to beryllium spacious and practical, but with a absorption connected an improved aerodynamics not seen before. A mid-mounted engine, pop-up lights, flush doorway handles and different styling aspects would resonate successful the manufacture and animate akin bold designs from different manufacturers successful the decades that followed.

The interior of the car was conscionable arsenic bold and futuristic arsenic the exterior with a scope of buttons connected the steering instrumentality and a comfy ergonomic benignant that was mode beyond its time.

Maserati Boomerang

The Maserati Boomerang is 1 conception car connected our database which really resulted successful a accumulation exemplary of sorts. The Boomerang was the forefather to the Maserati Bora which saw accumulation successful 1971 with astir 500 cars being built. 

Sharp angles of the Maserati Boomerang were supported by a 4.7-litre V8 susceptible of 310bhp. The plan of the Boomerang resonated powerfully with the institution and inspired galore of its aboriginal designs. This signifier and slopes of this conception tin besides beryllium seen successful galore different cars including the likes of the Lotus Esprit from 5 years aboriginal and adjacent the De Lorean DMC-12 from 1981. 

The one-off conception car was a drivable exemplary and presently resides successful backstage ownership being enactment connected show each fewer years astatine historical car shows. In 2015, it sold astatine auction for £3,023,010. 

Lancia Stratos Zero

The Lancia Stratos Zero is different bonkers conception car from the 1970's with sleek pointy lines and a futuristic design.

This mid-engined 2.4-litre V4 monster lone had 115hp but was inactive thing to beryllium sniffed at. The fully-functional conception lived connected done the years and successful 2000 it was fully-restored lone to beryllium sold astatine auction successful 2011 for $915,000.

OSI Silver Fox (1967)

OSI (Officina Stampaggio Industriale) built this conception car for the Turin Motor Show successful 1967. The Silver Fox was a small-engined car susceptible of reaching 155mph acknowledgment to the unsocial aerodynamic design.

The Silver Fox adjacent included manually adjustable spoilers giving it an aeroplane similar consciousness and an utmost quirkiness we conscionable love. 

Panther Six 1977

The Panther Six is an extravagant six-wheel convertible conception car built by Panther successful 1977. Only 2 examples of the car were built and some past to this time nether backstage ownership. 

This 8.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8 successful this conveyance helped enactment claims by Panther that the car was susceptible of reaching speeds successful excess of 200mph, though this was ne'er tested. The specification included everything from aerial conditioning to electrical windows and a telephone, pointing to a plan good beyond its time. 

Pontiac Club De Mer

At GM's Motorama car amusement successful 1956, the Pontiac Club De Mer was unveiled to the world. The Club De Mer was an experimental conveyance created arsenic a awesome of General Motors' passionateness for ultra-futuristic design. Boasting a 300 equine powerfulness V8 engine, the Club De Mer showed plentifulness of almighty promise.

The demo car was destroyed successful 1958, but a 4th size standard exemplary was motorised by the main decorator and incredibly lives connected to this day, past being sold astatine an auction successful 2009 for $110,000.

Toyota CX-80

The Toyota CX-80 was a conception car built by Toyota and primitively shown astatine the Tokyo Motor Show successful 1979. Pitched arsenic a "car of the future" the CX-80 was intended to beryllium substance efficient, airy and compact.

Front-wheel thrust meant the compartment was escaped to beryllium spacious and comfortable. A minimalistic interior included a futuristic looking dashboard and steering instrumentality mode beyond its time. An antithetic headlight plan made the car truly basal retired with a genuinely unsocial Japanese feel.

Toyota EX-III

Toyota has ever been 1 for pushing the boundaries of car plan and successful 1969 this sleek coupe was the effect of their effort to make an precocious imagination car susceptible of agelong distance, high-speed travel. 

The distinctive pointed bumper-less front, crisp sloping angles and tapered rear made it incredibly aerodynamic and the plan adjacent included a creaseless underbody. Design hints successful the exhausts pointed towards a gas-turbine engine, but further specs were ne'er revealed and the car ne'er made it into existent production.

Vauxhall SRV

The sleek angles of the Vauxhall SRV were inspired by the Le Mans racers of the 1970s. This conception car was developed and designed nether the sanction of the "Styling Research Vehicle" but was ne'er intended for usage arsenic a accumulation model. 

The car had galore features beyond its time, including electrically adjustable suspension, an adjustable aerofoil successful the chemoreceptor conception and handle-less rear doors. The SRV had nary motor to let it to tally but it worked arsenic intended arsenic the main purpose down accumulation was to rise Vauxhall's representation successful the industry. 

General Motors Firebird I

The General Motors Firebird I was fundamentally a conception car that saw a pitchy aeroplane being fixed wheels. 

This weird and fantastic looking car was crafted successful 1953 and was said to beryllium the archetypal state turbine-powered car tested successful the United States. Capable of 370hp from its turbo state turbine engine, it was tested up to 100MPH but was alternatively unstable owed to the beardown motor torque. It wasn't terribly applicable either, considering the exhaust ran astatine 677 degrees centigrade (some 1,250 degrees farenheit).

Oldsmobile Golden Rocket

This monster was crafted by Oldsmobile successful 1956 and was designed to look similar a rocket connected wheels, portion delivering the powerfulness too, with a 5.3-litre Rocket V8 motor and a fibreglass body. 

The Golden Rocket featured an aerodynamic body, bullet-shaped chrome,  sweeping fenders and a coagulated space-age vibe. 

Alas, it was simply a amusement car and thing more. 

Autobianchi A112 Runabout

In the precocious 1960s the Autobianchi A112 Runabout appeared arsenic an absorbing conception car which had a benignant seemingly inspired by the racing boats of the era. 

A agelong pointed nose, abbreviated rear extremity and different styling touches made it look precise sleek. This conception car besides had nary doors but did athletics a rollbar to support occupants safe. The nautical taxable continued into the car's interior too, with a speedometer styled similar a compass. 

An absorbing looking car indeed. 

Peugeot Quasar

During the 67th Paris Motor Show successful 1984, Peugeot unveiled the Peugeot Quasar. A quirky looking sports conception which boasted akin internals to the 205 Turbo 16 - the company's Rally car. 

The car was designed with a futuristic vibe and science-fiction-like aesthetic, but it besides had a ammunition that was designed to amusement disconnected the almighty interneals underneath. Those internals could enactment retired 600HP, making the Peugeot Quasar much than conscionable casual connected the eye.

Peugeot Moovie

In 2005, Peugeot revealed a conception car by the sanction of Moovie. This was said to beryllium a nippy and yet environmentally affable car. 

This futuristic-looking car ne'er made it into afloat accumulation oregon merchandise but was an absorbing conception plan by André Costa.

Renault Zoe E-Sport

The Renault ZOE e-Sport Concept represents a plan fusion of the existent Renault ZOE and a Formula E Renault e.dams single-seater. Renault's purpose present is to make a car that's 100 per cent electrical and 100 per cent sporty. 

With a assertion of 460bhp and 640Nm of torque delivered successful an instant and 0-62mph successful conscionable implicit 3 seconds too. Quite a blistery hatch! 

NextEV Nio EP9

The NextEV Nio EP9 is 1 aggravated looking conception car. In 2016, erstwhile it was archetypal revealed, it was said to beryllium some the fastest electrical car successful the satellite and besides the fastest self-driving 1 too.

Later it went connected to bash 160mph without a operator portion doing laps Circuit of the Americas (COTA) successful Austin, Texas. It tin scope 62mph successful conscionable 2.7 seconds and has a max velocity of 217mph. As accelerated arsenic it is mean looking. 

Volkswagen Sedric

Another self-driving concept. This clip from VW. The Volkswagen Sedric is intended to beryllium afloat autonomous with nary request astatine each for immoderate operator oregon adjacent a cockpit. 

Toyota Concept-i

In 2017 Toyota revealed the Concept-i. A semi-autonomous conveyance that promised artificial quality and a truly futuristic looking plan too. 

Renault Trezor

The Renault Trezor is simply a 2-seater electrical coupé with immoderate superior benignant and futuristic appeal. It's been crafted with a motion to classical cars, yet besides designed to wow. 

Writing by Adrian Willings. Originally published connected 14 August 2017.