1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Concept Roadster

The design of the Cyclone was heavily influenced by the aviation and rocket designs of the 1950s, yet unmistakably a Cadillac. It served as a test bed for futuristic styling and technology.

The bold Cyclone roadster was Harley Earl's last dream car. Its rocket tube-shaped body, aircraft cockpit canopy, sliding doors and 'mile-high' fins reflected the country's then-contemporary fascination with rocketry and future space travel. Its front-mounted engine was a 325-bhp, 390 cubic-inch V8, with a rear-mounted Hydra-Matic transmission and a two-speed differential offering six forward speeds. The wheelbase measured 104 inches. All the accessories were located in front of the engine and were divided by belts. The Cadillac Cyclone was the first to use Saginaw rotary valve power steering, as well as power brakes that employed a pressure servo and a reserve tank. Revised with the shorter fins shown here shortly after Mr. Earl's retirement. The bubble canopy stows under the rear decklid. Unusually, the Cyclone's engine exhaust was ported out ahead of the front wheels. It pioneered a radar-operated collision avoidance system with the radar system contained in the twin nose cones at the front of the car.

Its unique bubble canopy was silver coated for UV protection and it opened automatically with the sliding electrically operated doors. The canopy could also be stored in a rear compartment where it rested on a special airbag base. Interestingly, the car made its debut at the inaugural Daytona 500 stock car race.

The Cyclone looked more like a jet aircraft than a car, its two fenders resembling rockets. The two flat door Segments could be slid back. The revolutionary design was matched by the radar-sensing crash avoidance system and the Plexiglas bubble-top that automatically closed when its sensor detected rain.

The Cyclone Concept was designed to test styling and engineering ideas. The 2-passenger concept had a clear plastic cover that fits 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 with 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 with 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 with a low-profile carburetor, a cross-flow aluminum radiator, and two fans. The entire exhaust system, including the muffler, is located in the engine compartment with exhaust outlets just ahead of the front wheels. The initial white pearlescent paint was replaced later with 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