Year: 1965
Debut at: 1967 Detroit Autorama
Production cost: $324,500*
Brothers Mike and Larry Alexander, commissioned the design for the Dodge Deora from Harry Bradley. The car was designed in 1965 and was assembled for two years before its debut in the 1967 Detroit Autorama. The Deora’s design was based on a 1965 A100 Dodge pickup truck that the Alexander brothers customized for their purposes.
One of the special highlights of the car was the 101 horsepower engine and three-speed manual transmission. The Deora ended up being quite a hit and won nine awards at the Autorama, including the vaunted Ridler Award. The gold truck was even transformed into a Hot Wheels car.
Ford Gyron
Year: 1954
Debut at The Detroit Motor Show
Production cost: $40,000*
The two-wheeled Ford Gyron is another striking concept that debuted at the Detroit Motor Show. The Gyron was designed by Syd Mead and Alex Tremulis and displayed to the public in 1961. Mead and Tremulis implemented Louis Brennan’s theories of gyroscopic systems into the design.
The Gyron was made from fiberglass and, when stationary, had two small legs that kept the vehicle stable. The Gyron was purely a concept and was used for marketing purposes only, with no intention of being mass-produced.
Lincoln Futura
Year: 1955
Debut at: Chicago Auto Show
Production cost: $250,000*
The Lincoln Futura was a very expensive design to make (for 1955) as it took $250,000. Today that’s the equivalent of $2.4 million! The Futura first appeared at the Chicago Auto Show and later on the Today Show (then called Today) in March of 1955. The car’s design featured a plastic clear canopy top, large headlight pods, and giant tailfins—all novel features in the fifties.
The Futura was showcased within the auto show circuit throughout the mid-fifties before it became an icon as the base design for the Batmobile. George Barris customized the Futura’s design for the ’66 TV series.
Toyota EX-III Concept Car
Year: 1969
Debut at: Tokyo Motor Show
Production cost: $2,000*
The EX-III was the third production in a collection of Toyota concept cars. The prime signature of the EX-III’s design was its aerodynamic ability, which was greatly emphasized when it was displayed. The EX-III had room for two and appeared to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The roof-mounted spoiler was adjustable in order to increase and maintain stability even at high speeds. The interior was designed with convenience in mind with all of the controls within reach. With a longer bonnet, lower build, tapered rear, and sharp, sloped sides, the EX-III was a head-turning model.
Bisiluro Damolnar
Year: 1955
Debut at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Production cost: $20,000*
The Bisiluro Damolnar was a rather quirky-looking, twin-boom, a missile-like car with an oval-shaped steering wheel. Conceptualized by racer Enrico Nardi, he used a BMW, Giannin-tuned 750 engine for one side of the vehicle in its manufacturing. The other side of the vehicle featured the driver’s seat, and both the driver and engine were kept in their own streamlined capsules.
The cherry-red racer weighed under 1,000 pounds and was positioned on a Fiat 500 chassis. The Bisiluro Damolnar debuted in 1955 at the Le Mans running but was found to be unsuitable for the road due to its lightness.