Concept Cars: From Detroit – 1953 to 1956

CONCEPT  CARS:  FROM  DETROIT – 1953 TO 1956

Built  In  Fiberglass:

Concept and/or prototype cars created by the major and independent manufacturing companies.  These were “Dream Cars” or “Styling Exercises” that went on the show circuit (in most cases) and were promoted to the public as a vision of the future or an offering of a new style of car available soon.

These were cars rendered in full size using fiberglass and may have been drivable.  Smaller scale models are not included in the list below.  

Nearly forty fiberglass concept cars were made in Detroit from 1953 to 1956, and these are shown below.

Add Strother MacMinn’s 1959 book “Sports Cars of the Future” to review each of the concept cars below

Year  Car

1953

5 Cars:

Buick Wildcat I
Owned by Joe Bortz

Cadillac LeMans
4 Built
Three Survivors

Chevrolet Corvette
(lost)

Lincoln XL 500
(lost)

Oldsmobile Starfire
The XP Rocket
(lost)

 1953_Buick Wildcat I b 1953_Buick Wildcat Ia

Buick Wildcat I

1953_Cadillac LeMans a 1953_Cadillac LeMans bCadillac LeMans

1953-Chevrolet-Motorama-CorvetteChevrolet Corvette – introduced at the GM Motorama

3 53 Lincoln XL-500 2 1 53 Lincoln XL-500 1 1953 Lincoln XL 500 Concept car 4 53 Lincoln XL-500 2 PR 2 53 Lincoln XL-500 1 PR

Lincoln XL-500

1953_Oldsmobile_Starfire_Convertible_Show_Car_03 1953_Oldsmobile_Starfire_Convertible_Show_Car_05
Oldsmobile Starfire

1954

16 Cars:

Buick Wildcat II
Owned by Sloan Museum

Cadillac El Camino
(lost)

Cadillac La Espada
(lost)

Cadillac Park Avenue
(lost)

Chevrolet Corvette
Hardtop
Detachable Hardtop
(lost)

Chevrolet Corvette
Corvair
(lost)

Chevrolet Corvette
Nomad Wagon
(lost)

Dodge Granada
Sold for $228,800
(plus 10% fee)
at Sheridan Auction in 2014

Ford FX-Atmos
(lost)

Mercury XM-800
Sold for $429,000 at RM Auctions in 2009

Oldsmobile Cutlass
(lost)

Oldsmobile F-88:
Three Built
One Survives
Sold for $3,300,000 at Barrett-Jackson in 2005

Packard Panther
4 Built
4 Survive
One sold for $825,000 at Barrett-Jackson in 2013

Plymouth Belmont:
Sold for $1,320,000 at Barrett-Jackson in 2013

Pontiac Bonneville Special
Two Built
Both Survive
One Sold for $3,080,000 at
Barrett-Jackson in 2006

Pontiac Strato-Streak
(lost)

 Buick Wildcat II
Cadillac El Camino
Cadillac La Espada
Cadillac Park Avenue
Chevrolet Corvette – Corvair
Chevrolet Corvette – Nomad Wagon
Chevrolet Corvette – Removable Hardtop
Dodge Granada
Ford FX-Atmos
Mercury XM-800
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile F-88 – sold at 3.2 million in 2005
Packard Panther
Plymouth Belmont
Pontiac Bonneville Special
Pontiac Strato-Streak

1955

10 Cars:

Buick Wildcat III
(lost)

Chevrolet Biscayne
Owned by Joe Bortz

Ford Mystere
(lost)

GMC L’Universelle Truck
(lost)

LaSalle II Convertible
Owned by Joe Bortz

LaSalle II Sedan
Owned by Joe Bortz

Mercury D528
Owned by Petersen Automotive Museum

Oldsmobile 88 Delta
Fiberglass Body With Stainless Steel Roof
(lost)

Pontiac Strato-Star
(lost)

 Buick Wildcat III
Chevrolet Biscayne
Flajole Forerunner (independent)
Ford Mystere
GMC L’Universelle Truck
LaSalle II Convertible
LaSalle II Sedan
Mercury D528
Oldsmobile 88 Delta – fiberglass body with stainless steel roof
Pontiac Strato-Star

1956

3 Cars:

Buick Centurion
Owned by Sloan Museum

Chevrolet Corvette Impala
5 passenger
(lost)

Oldsmobile Golden Rocket
(lost)

 Buick Centurion
Chevrolet Corvette Impala Dream Car – 5 passenger
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket