2 - 1955 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Concept
At the time, GM put on an annual automotive event called Motorama, where folks had the chance to see what the company was working on that year. At the 1955 edition of the show, Oldsmobile presented this concept the aim of which was to study the use of new materials and design ideas. Inside, for example, there was a central console for the radio that also featured storage spaces. The roof was of brushed aluminum and the windows were lightly tinted in blue.
3 – 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket Concept
As the name suggests, this prototype was strongly inspired by aviation and by the space race that was heating up at the time. The vehicle could welcome two occupants and features a fibreglass body. Under the hood was Oldsmobile’s Rocket V8 engine, which had a displacement of 234 cc and developed 275 hp. For all that power, the model weighed only 2,500 lb.
Presented at Motorama in 1956, this design study was also futuristic on the inside. The seats rose up by a few inches when the doors were opened and pivoted to make access easier. Also part of the design was a reclining steering wheel, a very rare sight at the time. Fun fact: when you look at the rear window you get a hint of the approach that would be adopted with the Chevrolet Corvette in 1963.