I've been watching this thread at another forum I post at. It's really interesting to look at old prototypes and such from years back. Interesting to see how styling trends (then we thought were hot and fresh) now look tacky and dated.
http://carspyshots.net/showthread.php?t=20353
Some previews:
Prototype for a Benz E-class? W118
(http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/mercedes-benz/w118_w119_prototype/autowp.ru_mercedes-benz_w118_w119_prototype_2.jpg)
VW Shanghai (Monospace MPV to combat the then-new Renault Espace and possibly Caravan/Voyager)
(http://www.chinacartimes.com/wp-content/shanghaimpv.jpg)
Renault 5 prototypes
(http://up.autotitre.com/189fa183df.gif)
Design proposals for the Renault Scenic (2nd gen)
(http://panick.free.fr/etstyle/renaultscenic2-projetsc.jpg)
Honda Insight Proposal II
(http://www.insightman.com/mag_photos/mock-up1.jpg)
Insight proposal III
(http://www.insightman.com/mag_photos/mock-up2.jpg)
Honda Insight Proposal IV (amazing how subtle proportional changes make the car look far worse. How did Honda say that this version looks better?)
(http://www.insightman.com/mag_photos/mock-up2c.jpg)
Design proposals for the Volvo S80
(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7537/managementshow1.jpg)
Design proposal for the NA Miata
(http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6408/mazdamx5t.jpg)
Citroen DS
(http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4299/citroendspropsalmodelbe.jpg)
Citroen BX Minivan, complete with 3-rows. Interesting that Citroen held off on producing it. I think they had entered into bankruptcy at the time, and were bought out by Peugeot.
(http://leroux.andre.free.fr/h3bn1.jpg)
Fiat Panda Minivan
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Emelba_chato.jpg)
Hyundai Portico - this picture is at least two years old. And that mule looks very developed. Has Hyundai put a stop on this model? Interesting.
(http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/crossovers/2010_hyundai_portico_spied/2010_hyundai_portico/hunpor_09_spy_2/1611059-1-eng-US/hunpor_09_spy_2_gallery_image_large.jpg)
Ford GT70
(http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2011/03/xlarge_ford_gt70.jpg)
EP Honda Civic - the detailis aren't great, but those proportions are very lovely. Almost RWD, like a Z3 coupe.
(http://panick.free.fr/etstyle/hondacivic-projetinterne.jpg)
TSX/Accord
(http://panick.free.fr/etstyle/hondaaccord-projetinterne.jpg)
Some of the highlights I thought were interesting. Definitely a good read and thumb through.
I actually do think about this a lot when a new car is released. Nice find.
This design proposal really illustrates how far Honda has fallen.
I don't know why this bugs me so
(http://www.insightman.com/mag_photos/mock-up2.jpg)
(http://www.insightman.com/mag_photos/mock-up2c.jpg)
The design differences are subtle, but the last one (pretty much production) look terrible! I wonder if this was the same case for cars like the new Civic, ZDX and pretty much any modern Honda.
The ZDX was destined to fail, based on its idea alone.
(http://panick.free.fr/etstyle/hondaaccord-projetinterne.jpg)
They got that one right, though.
Quote from: CALL_911 on January 20, 2012, 08:39:47 PM
The ZDX was destined to fail, based on its idea alone.
(http://panick.free.fr/etstyle/hondaaccord-projetinterne.jpg)
They got that one right, though.
But the one after it, I dunno.
That's the only current Acura I consider to be good looking.
Recently, my uncle asked me to recommend him some vehicles to replace my aunt's 1999 Outback. I recommended the TSX wagon, and upon those words leaving my mouth, my first thought was, "I'm recommending an Acura? This hasn't happened since like 2006!"
Holy cow; the Ford Pinto could have looked like this!
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3598355650_8c865509c3.jpg)
(http://aronline.co.uk/images/x250dev_12.jpg)
Quote from: 68_427 on January 20, 2012, 11:25:52 PM
(http://aronline.co.uk/images/x250dev_12.jpg)
So glad that never came to be.
Quote from: 2o6 on January 20, 2012, 08:19:25 PM
(http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2011/03/xlarge_ford_gt70.jpg)
Hot damn, that thing's like a Ford Dino.
Me gusta. Me gusta mucho.
Here's a look at the design evolution of the ZJ Grand Cherokee: http://homepage.mac.com/christopher.z/hobby/93-Jeep2design.html
You can see how it evolved from some far-out sketches to a full clay mock-up in '85 by Larry Shinoda. Remember, this was a couple years before Chrysler bought AMC.
At the bottom of the page is the 'Concept 1', showed in '89. You can see the that the final design of the Grand Cherokee was pretty close.
Thanks for posting this link, Kevin............ absolutely fascinating. There's an awful lot of stuff on there that I've not seen before.
In similar vein, I stickied this one a while ago: http://www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?6,3603327,page=1
You can spend hours studying this stuff and marvel at what on earth went through the mfr's brains........... mercifully, a lot of the wackier stuff was never commercialised. Still interesting to see it all, though.
Gasp! It's the Panamera!
(http://www.mossinger.com/928/ASCestate.jpg)
(http://www.autoweek.com/files/weekart/2005/0822/porsche989.jpg)
That last one is a good looking car.
So glad this never happened
Porsche Varrera - VW Sharan/Seat Alhambara/Ford Galaxy powered by a flat six.
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2yyob44.jpg)
(http://www.autopuzzles.com/Puzzle1265.jpg)
And a 5-door Panda.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/abesseling/pandaelba2.jpg)
Quote from: Colin on January 21, 2012, 02:08:47 AM
In similar vein, I stickied this one a while ago: http://www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?6,3603327,page=1
(http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachments/other-italian-cars/90675d1201546958-volvo-zagato-volvoz.jpg)
(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll174/meangirl23/House/house-do-want.jpg)
(http://volvo1800pictures.com/prototypes/prot_fastback_724_1.jpg)
(http://alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/png/misc-me-gusta.png)
Quote from: 2o6 on January 22, 2012, 10:58:36 AM
That last one is a good looking car.
It's what the Panamera would have looked like if the Porsche CEO was a midget, since he wouldn't have complained about the head room and made the designers change the roof line.
Quote from: hotrodalex on January 23, 2012, 06:49:34 PM
It's what the Panamera would have looked like if the Porsche CEO was a midget, since he wouldn't have complained about the head room and made the designers change the roof line.
Yep. That's the genesis of most final production cars.
concept v1: Looks great, let's build it
I can't see out of it or fit any luggage.
concept v2: Hey, that's looks pretty good too, let's build it.
The NHTSA has some bad news.
pre-prod v1: Hey, that's a decent looking car, and its pretty practical too.
Hey, its the NHTSA guys again. Something about bumper heights and their new pedestrian crash standards.
pre-prod v2: Well, its not the sharpest thing on the road, but it looks OK. I just hope it'll sell.
Well, the projected costs are a little higher than we expected, we may have to rethink the paint and interior trim options.
production version: I can't beleive anybody thought this was a good idea.
A couple of interesting prototypes from the soon-to-be-liquidated Saab Museum.
1977 Saab 99 station wagon with an unusual rear window design. This is obviously just a canopy stuck onto the back of the standard 99 hatchback.
(http://htmlimg3.scribdassets.com/5t4x62f9c01clicc/images/47-8be1583bd9.jpg)
Saab tried again in 1980 with this 900 "Safari" wagon concept. This one looks more production-ready. I wonder why it was never made?
(http://htmlimg1.scribdassets.com/5t4x62f9c01clicc/images/58-0e241bb771.jpg)
(http://www.coup.nl/fiat130/opera1.jpg)
Ooh.
I like the production 130 Berlina very much, but that is just even nicer.
Had a log chat to a 130 Coupe owner at an event last year and he rued the fact that these cars are simply not known and unappreciated. Good 130 Coupes are still worth less than ?10k which is little short of criminal. If only I had a usable (and large enough) garage......
Quote from: omicron on January 29, 2012, 06:12:10 AM
(http://www.coup.nl/fiat130/opera1.jpg)
Ooh.
Holy shit.
WANT! :wub:
Anyone need a left testicle? I'll give, you buy!
Quote from: Colin on January 29, 2012, 09:44:47 AM
Had a log chat to a 130 Coupe owner at an event last year and he rued the fact that these cars are simply not known and unappreciated. Good 130 Coupes are still worth less than ?10k which is little short of criminal. If only I had a usable (and large enough) garage......
Agreed. Fiat 130 Coupes are like a "Geheimtipp" (underappreciated classic cars). I'd love to have one, to. Such a simple yet gorgeous design. :wub:
A shame that people tend to hear "Fiat" and think it's unreliable piece of crap. :facepalm:
great tread!
I wish I could find the pictures I took of a disguised Lincoln small SUV we say on the road in Kentucky about 18 months before it was introduced to the public. At the time we assumed it was a lincoln becasue the SUV following it was a Lincoln and the two were in obvious walkie talkie contact. I pulled up beside it while it was moving and my wife started taking pictures. The driver of the chase SUV must have radioed the driver of the one we were taking pictrues of becasue he gave us a dirty look and they both immediately turned left. Me, being in the right lane could do nothing but wait for another median cut to turn around. They lost me.
I sent the pictures to Csaba Csere ad C/D and talked to him on the phone, but they didn't publish them. :frown:
Later that day we toured the Corvette Factory. I recommend it, even if you don't like Corvettes.
Quote from: Colin on January 29, 2012, 09:44:47 AM
I like the production 130 Berlina very much, but that is just even nicer.
Had a log chat to a 130 Coupe owner at an event last year and he rued the fact that these cars are simply not known and unappreciated. Good 130 Coupes are still worth less than ?10k which is little short of criminal. If only I had a usable (and large enough) garage......
Tell me about it. For example, $12,550/?8480. (http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=1&R=10945559&keywords=&trecs=3&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Price_Decimal%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__sid=13514EC74791&__Nne=15&__Qpb=1&seot=1&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294966300%204294966327&silo=1011)
:wub:
Or
two for $25,950/?17,530, with two extra engines, a gearbox and extra spares. (http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=0&R=11592105&keywords=&trecs=3&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Price_Decimal%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__sid=13514EC74791&__Nne=15&__Qpb=1&seot=1&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294966300%204294966327&silo=1011)
This should have been made:
(http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/66amc_amx-ii_2.JPG)
AMC AMX-II. Very handsome, and usefully-sized.
Quote from: omicron on February 05, 2012, 04:04:48 AM
This should have been made:
(http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/66amc_amx-ii_2.JPG)
AMC AMX-II. Very handsome, and usefully-sized.
Fuck that shit, son, bring back the Monaro convertible.
Here's a nice read on some design proposals for the 1st gen Mondeo
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/ford/mondeo/the-cars-ford-mondeo/ (http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/ford/mondeo/the-cars-ford-mondeo/)
Quote from: 2o6 on April 19, 2013, 08:49:32 AM
Here's a nice read on some design proposals for the 1st gen Mondeo
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/ford/mondeo/the-cars-ford-mondeo/ (http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/ford/mondeo/the-cars-ford-mondeo/)
I didn't read all of it but that was really interesting. I'd love to see more design processes for other cars.
:cry:
Omi!