1959 Cadillac Cyclone Concept, An Indication Of The United States Obsession With Jet Design And Aerodynamics – Design You Trust

1959 Cadillac Cyclone Concept, An Indication Of The United States Obsession With Jet Design And Aerodynamics

In the 1950s the United States was obsessed with jet plane design, which was applied to other non related products including cars. Between 1949 and 1961 General Motors launched their concept cars every year at the Motorama shows, which were highly anticipated throughout the country. Jet design had already inspired the designers of the three Firebird concepts launched between 1954 and 1950. With their gas turbine engines, they were literally road going jets. In 1959 Cadillac joined the ‘jet age’ with the Cyclone Concept.

h/t: vintag.es

Unlike the Firebirds, the Cyclone was powered by a conventional internal combustion engine, but being a tweaked version of the marque’s V8 engine, it still offered stellar performance. From the nose cones to the tail lights the design was clearly inspired by the latest aeroplane design. The nose cones were equipped with radar, which served as a crash avoidance system. Right behind the cones the next ‘oddity’ can be found; the exhaust system, which exits in front of the front wheels. The lights were not conventional either, and could be completely hidden above the grill.

The interior was relatively standard, but it was covered by a one-piece plastic canopy. Currently this is replaced by a regular wind screen. To get in and out of the car, the Cadillac engineers developed the first ever sliding doors. Today these are very commonly used on minivans. Another interesting feature of the doors was a small panel in each one, which could be opened to pay for toll ways. The rear end is dominated by two large tail lights, which resembled jet exhausts. The design is rounded off by two relatively small wings, which were one of the few jet design cues that made it onto production cars.

The odd looking Cyclone Concept is still owned by General Motors, and is currently on display at the company’s Heritage Center. From time to time it is taken out for public appearances where it continues to amaze the crowds, just as it did 50 years ago.










If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

NASA Releases Sharpest Ever Moon Map
The New Cruise Ship 'Disney Fantasy' Leaves the Dockyard
Beautiful Black & White Photographs of Children Playing in Barcelona in the 1970s
Lady Gaga Unveils 'Flying Dress'
‘Ello John. Got A New Motor – Retro Porsche Posters
Cool Photos Show What Bedrooms of Teenagers Looked Like in the 1980s
For the Last Decade, Artist and Collector Thomas Sauvin Recovered Discarded Negatives from A Recycling Plant Outside Beijing
Early 1950s Tijuana Bible, a Humorous Pamphlet About Urination
"Gatling" Water Gun Created!
Sci-Fi Author Jared Gray Turns His Sleep Apnea Mask Into An Alien Facehugger
1950s Teenage Girls' Fashion Captured in Vintage Photos
reaDIYmates: Your Fun Wifi Paper Companion
Bronze Muscles and Monsters of the Black Sun: Fantasy Illustrations by Ken Kelly
This Instagram Account Creates Sinister Parodies of Retro Pop-Culture Pictures
A Couple Of Nerds Got 36 iMac Boxes And Made An iWheel
"Les Amies de Place Blanche": Captivating Portraits Of Paris Transsexuals In The 1950s
Worlds Largest Jesus Christ Statue From Poland Began Distributing Internet From Antennas In His Crown
Y40 Deep Joy – the World's Deepest Pool
These Colourised Photographs Show How People Took Shelter in The London Underground in The 1940s
“Street Life In London”: Photographer Colorized Photos From Over 140 Years Ago
The Superb Retro-Inspired Illustrations by Alexey Kot
"Our Last Summer": The Superb Collages of Maria Luiza Zanelato
The America We Lost: Fascinating Found Photos Show How Life of the US Looked Like in the 1960s
Train Travels Right Through Hole In 19-Storey Block Of Flats