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1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Concept news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Roadster Designer: Harley Earl |
The Cyclone Concept was designed to test styling and engineering ideas. The 2-passenger concept had a clear plastic cover that fit snugly against the panoramic windshield for a true 360 degree vision. When not in use, the power operated canopy folds backward beneath the surface of the trunk. At the touch of a button, Cyclone's doors move outward 3 inches from the car, and slide back smoothly on ball bearings for easy entrance. Among its advanced features is a radar sensing device, located in the twin nose cones, which scans the road ahead, and electronically alerts the driver wîth an audible signal and a warning light if an object is in its path. The dash instruments are clustered like an aircraft dashboard, between the two passengers. An intercommunication system allows the passengers to converse wîth persons outside the automobile without raising the canopy.
Built on a 104' chassis, the Cyclone is 197' long and stands only 44' tall; the body is made of steel (not fiberglass, like some experimental models); power is provided by the standard 325 HP engine fitted wîth a low-profile carburetor, a cross-flow aluminum radiator and two fans. The entire exhaust system, including the muffler, are located in the engine compartment wîth exhaust outlets just ahead of the front wheels. The initial white pearlescent paint was replaced later wîth silver; at the same time, the GM Air Transport logo disappeared from the tall fins, to be replaced by an oblong, vertical Cyclone name badge placed at the extremity of each rear fender. The seats are silver leather.
In the late 1940s GM adopted a very bold sales strategy: the exclusive GM-only Motorama, which was the best way to grab the attention of the press and public. A total of eight were held between 1949 and 1961 and one of the most exciting was the 1953 edition, which was the introduction of the Corvette and several other fiberglass bodied 'dream cars.'Source - GM
The Cadillac Cyclone was an indication of the United States obsession with jet design and aerodynamics. During the early 1950's GM introduced their Firebird concepts which featured dramatic and bold designs powered by gas turbine engines.
Powering the Cyclone was a modified version of a V8 engine capable of producing 325 horsepower. The headlights could be completely hidden above the grill. Located in the nose cones were radars which aided in crash avoidance. The exhaust system was located directly behind the nose cone and in front of the front wheels. Located in the rear were large tail lights which gave the impression of jet exhausts. Small wings finished off the Cyclone and would eventually make it into production.
Getting in and out of the car was relatively easy, thanks in part to sliding doors. The practicality continued with small panels being located in each door, allowing for easy access to pay tolls.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2006
Powering the Cyclone was a modified version of a V8 engine capable of producing 325 horsepower. The headlights could be completely hidden above the grill. Located in the nose cones were radars which aided in crash avoidance. The exhaust system was located directly behind the nose cone and in front of the front wheels. Located in the rear were large tail lights which gave the impression of jet exhausts. Small wings finished off the Cyclone and would eventually make it into production.
Getting in and out of the car was relatively easy, thanks in part to sliding doors. The practicality continued with small panels being located in each door, allowing for easy access to pay tolls.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2006
| | | Roadster Designer: Harley Earl |
| Eleanor of 'Gone In 60 seconds' Will Cross The Block At Mecum's Indy Auction | |
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| GARMIN TO PROVIDE IN-DASH NAVIGATION FOR FUTURE MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS | |
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| 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...] |
| CADILLAC CONCEPT CARS STAR at AMELIA CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE | |
 | There are limited production cars, there are rare cars and there are concept cars that never find their way to the showroom. A fleet of Cadillac's rare and mythic Motorama and Detroit Auto Show Concept Cars will take to the field at the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance on Sunday March 10, 2013. Created under the supervision of GM's legendary styling chief, Harley Earl, the Cadillac Concept cars of the 'Fifties were created as the stars of GM's Motorama shows. All are blood anc...[Read more...] |
| Carroll Shelby, Ford Family for More Than Half a Century | |
 | Carroll Shelby was a member of the Ford family for the better part of 60 years, producing stunning performance vehicles from concepts to production models. He once said his energy and passion for performance products were always strongest when he was working with Ford. Shelby most recently collaborated with the company on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, the most powerful production V8 in the world. Working with SVT engineers at Sebring and the Arizona Proving Grounds, at times he drov...[Read more...] |
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 | 1949 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Prototype |
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| Cadillac: 1951-1960 |
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| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
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| 58th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance |
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