 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
1967 Chevrolet Corvair Astro I news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
The Chevrolet Astro I concept car appeared in 1967 as a radical-lòòking fastback coupe designed for the show circuit. The car's height was under three feet, and hinged rear body/door section allowed access to the cockpit. A periscope rearview mirror on the roof provided a wide-angle view. Twin aircraft-style controls were used in place of a §teering wheel.Source - GM
 |  |  |
To achieve the aero goals, a very small frontal area, extremely low roofline and a relatively high back were required.
These design parameters led GM Design to the Corvair platform with its air-cooled, rear-mounted engine and the absence of a space-consuming radiator.
The Astro I body is fiberglass, and the sleek bubble on the roof contains an intricate mirror system to provide the driver with unobstructed rearward vision.
Riding on a sophisticated double-wishbone suspension, the Astro I utilized compact centrifugal blowers to cool the engine while keeping drag-inducing body openings to a minimum.
Mitchell's breathtaking 1967 Astro I styling enabled his designers to explore the boundaries between beauty and low-drag forms. At less than three feet high, it was the lowest concept model ever created by GM Design, so low that passengers had to use elevator seats to get in and out. A touch of a flush release caused the canopy to rise electrically. Once inside, occupants were lowered to a reclining position with another button.
By contrast, the following year's Astro II, a collaboration between GM Design and GM Research, was a much more production-practical sports car. One of an extended series of mid-engine concepts created by Mitchell and Corvette Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, with input from Larry Shinoda, it was designed with future Corvettes in mind.
The radical 1969 Astro III is a two-passenger experimental car resembling an executive jet aircraft, even down to its 'tricycle' wheel arrangement....though it actually has four wheels, with the front pair placed close together under its nose. Powered by a Model 250-C18 gas turbine engine, it was envisioned as a high-performance vehicle suited for future restricted access or system-controlled highways. A power canopy moves forward and upward for entry, and rear vision is provided by closed-circuit TV with a screen on the center console.
| Unique Mystery Mustang Headlines Amelia's Unique WWTT* Class | |
 | 'The Amelia's' *WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? Class is much more than a place for what some might label weird, odd or strange. The class, with a philosophy unique to 'The Amelia', is a place for significant and interesting cars that fit no class, category or commercial orthodoxy. Nearly half a century later, we still don't know what Ford was planning when they commissioned the creation of Bill and Chris Snyder's 1964 ½ 'shorty' Mustang. We do know that they created one man's dream car. We just...[Read more...] |
| Corvette Shines in the Big Apple | |
 | All-new Corvette Stingray comes to New York City 60 years to the day after Motorama debut 2013-01-16 Sixty years ago tomorrow, spectators lined New York City's posh Park Avenue, waiting to get a glimpse of the ground-breaking Chevrolet Corvette on display at the General Motors' Motorama show. On Thursday, the Corvette will be back in The Big Apple, marking the historic milestone with the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. The all-new Corvette Stingray debuted earlier...[Read more...] |
| PORSCHE BOXSTER RANKED AMONG CAR AND DRIVER MAGAZINE'S 10 BEST CARS FOR 2013 | |
 | • Boxster makes coveted 10Best List Atlanta. The Porsche Boxster has once again been selected for Car and Driver magazine's list of the 10Best cars sold in America. This year marks the 12th time in 14 years that either a Boxster or Cayman model has been selected for this honor, which was announced during the press days of the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The all-new, third-generation Boxster was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March and has been on sale in the U.S. fo...[Read more...] |
| Corvette's Chassis Innovations Refined on the Race Track | |
 | Zora Arkus-Duntov's racing-bred development legacy continues to improve Corvette It's been said that racing improves the breed, and when it comes to the Chevrolet Corvette, nearly six decades of checkered flags are the proof. As Corvette marks its 60th anniversary in 2013, the design of the chassis, suspension and other drivetrain features are rooted in the rigors of competition. 'Candidly, Corvette was not a high-performance car until Zora Arkus-Duntov fitted it with a V-8, and be...[Read more...] |
| Auctions America By RM's Spring Carlisle Auction Kicks off 2012 Northeastern U.S. Collector Car Season | |
 | Auctions America by RM will return to the Carlisle Expo Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on April 26-27, 2012, to kick off the collector car season for the Northeastern U.S. with its Spring Carlisle auction. Featuring nearly 300 American hot rods, muscle cars, classics and memorabilia during its two-day sale, the Spring Carlisle auction is held in conjunction with the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral (April 25-29), hosted each year by Carlisle Events. The auction is one of se...[Read more...] |
1967| Similar Automakers | |
| Cadillac | Chrysler |
| Dodge | Ford |
| GMC | Hummer |
| Jeep | Lincoln |
| Mercury | Pontiac |
| Saturn | |
| Chevrolet: 1961-1970 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Chevrolet History |
| Other models by Chevrolet |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| GM Heritage Museum |
| Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
