STRANGER THAN FICTION
CALAMITY CONCEPTS
D oes anyone else think it’ s
hilarious that the first concept car to ever roll into public view, way back in 1938, was called the Buick Y-Job?
Apparently nobody in the 1930s found it funny. In fact, the Y-Job was such a crowd pleaser that automakers latched on to the notion of showcasing concept creations. Today, concept cars are a staple at major motor shows around the world.
Whether the aim is to show off a car company’ s new design direction, preview upcoming models or simply serve as a wheeled flight of fancy, concept cars never fail to draw massive amounts of attention. Not always positive attention, though. While it is completely understandable that some designers see it as an opportunity to exercise artistic liberty, others have sadly failed to realise that“ art” isn’ t spelled with an“ f” in front of it.
Here are just a handful of atrocities that never should have made it to the spotlight:
1950 Martin Stationette
In the 1950s, wood-based cars were a common trend; they were affectionately called“ woodies”( if you didn’ t smirk at that, there’ s something wrong with you). These cars went hand-in-hand with sunshine, sand, surfboards and bikini-clad beach bunnies.
However, the 1950 Martin Stationette looked more like it would go hand-in-hand with a horse, a whip, a cowboy hat and a little house on the prairie. It is best described as an aerodynamic carriage from Wild Wild West.
Ridiculously, its designer James V. Martin billed it as the“ commuter car of the future”! It won’ t come as a surprise to say that the idea that never took off because no investors were forthcoming.
Had Martin launched the concept a century earlier, we suspect he might have had better luck.
1999 Rinspeed X-Trem We can only speculate, but it is highly likely that the inspiration behind this
Changfeng Rhombus R-6
doozy must have been designer Frank Rinderknecht’ s need to fulfil the fanciful wishes of every five-year-old. Why else would you build a yellow tugboat-looking pic k-up truck with … wait for it … a matching hovercraft that fits in the back?
Rinderknecht, for one, thought it was so cool that he saw fit to host a grand unveiling at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show. When the very large cover came off the X-Trem, the crowd gasped( in horror) and then gagged.
“ But it’ s got a freaking hovercraft!” you could almost hear him say.
1950 Martin Stationette
Changfeng Rhombus R-6 If your first reaction to this car isn’ t“ whatthe-heck-is-that”, then there is a future for you in China’ s burgeoning auto industry.
While the Asian economic powerhouse is fast becoming the world’ s number one factory for consumer goods, the world may not be ready for some of its“ cuttingedge” car design concepts just yet. Like, for example, this four-door sedan that rides atop one wheel at each of its tapered ends and two larger wheels located midway down the sides.
There’ s more: its interior features material that contains hemp fibres – and for the uninitiated,“ hemp” is another word for cannabis.
Knowing this, we’ re not sure which is more shocking; the fact that someone thought actually thought the R-6 was a good idea, or the fact that no one attempted to smoke it during its premier at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show.
1999 Rinspeed X-Trem I S S U E 3 | M N M 2 0 1 3
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