One of the more memorable vehicles that he helped design was the 1961 ford gyron. African american designer made history helping pen 1966. Drawing of the ford gyron, shape, december 1959 the. Conceived and designed by alex tremulis, head of fords advanced studio, this iconic concept car was among the bestknown and most. As a direct successor to the ford gyron, he called the motorcycle the gyronaut and set as his first task to meet his critics headon and publicly define his goals for all the world to see and judge. Apr 27, 2012 gyroscopes have been used in transportation for over a century. Antiques, photography vintage photos september 5, 20.
It was first shown in 1972 at the earls court motor show. Chevrolet did two mako shark concepts in the mid1960s. Id like to mention five concept cars that predated the yjob, and im sure there were even earlier examples. Thompson steadily moved up the ranks at the ford motor company. Nov 30, 2015 the concept of concept cars goes back futher than most people realize.
Over 50 years, auto makers such as ford, general motors and bmw. Crowds attending the 1962 chicago show were awestruck by the experimental ford gyron, which debuted in 1961. Concept cars exist at the apex point where dreams and technology meet. Recently, lamm was searching for a photo of a ford gyron, a 1963 twowheel concept car kept upright with a gyroscope.
The concept of concept cars goes back futher than most people realize. Thompson also worked on the futuristic spaceage ford gyron, a twowheeled concept car that was on display at the century of progress exhibit at the ford rotunda in 1961. Theres a common misconception that concept cars began in 1938 with harley earls buick yjob. Hot rod 1961 may 99 racing, gyron, daytona, 409 ebay. The gyron was destroyed in the 1962 ford rotunda fire. Few concept cars ever go into production, but the innovations they feature occasionally find their way into the cars we drive every day. The ford gyron concept car of 1961 was envisioned as a car of the future. He struck out everywhere but with the detroit collection. The thought was to advance streamlining by reducing the frontal area as much as possible. Ford gyron concept car 1961 ford gyron concept car 1961 old concept cars. One such concept car, the gyron, had been a pet project of his from the early 1950s. The two occupants of the vehicle were seated side by side and, when the vehicle was stationary, two small legs appeared from the sides to support it. Instead, ford built the car with outrigger wheels, needed to stabilize it at low speeds. Cadillac ct6 weird cars cool cars crazy cars strange cars us cars sport cars hot wheels shooting break ford s gyron concept car, 1961.
All about 1934 chevs 4853 chev pickups history of chevrolet history of the corvette prototypes car spotters guide monaro shrine the aussie ute panel vans wheelstanders scallops slopers year make. Instead, the fiberglass gyron used outrigger wheels to keep its balance while an electric motor moved it at 5 mph. Whether we crave for clean power, extreme performance or just plain weird shapes, we have the perfect prototype to. Syd mead was one of a small number of designers that worked on fords gyron, a twowheel gyroscopicallybalanced automobile. Vintage lot of 2 gyron cocept cars the white one is complete even has the front windshield which is always missing. The earliest gyron sketches were rendered in 1956, but tremulis renewed his interest in the gyron after learning of gms 1959 firebird iii concept, which was hailed as the worlds most advanced and most exotic car. Looking ahead to a world with controlled freeway systems, the tires of the gyron were designed to deflate and inflate for travel at varying speeds. Ford gyron concept car 1961 images free pictures of ford gyron concept car 1961 for. Steering a motorcycle is done by precessing the front wheel. The ford gyron was a twowheeled gyrocar which made its debut at the 1961 detroit motor show. The ford cirrus concept car was a production car supplied by ford of britain and restyled by woodallnicholson ltd. The difference between a bicycle or motorcycle and a gyrocar is that in a bike, dynamic balance is provided by the rider, and in some cases by the geometry and mass distribution of the bike itself, and the gyroscopic effects from the wheels.
Ford minibus using f450 chassis ford minibus using e350 formerly econoline 350 ford e450 super duty minibus ford mb series minibus iv models 100, 100a, 200 and 200c super duty ford mbc series buses iv models 200, 200c, 300, 300d, 800. Ford gyron automobile displayed at the ford rotunda building. For many people, concept cars are the highlight of any big auto show. It stands to reason that j would have loved or at least tolerated the ford gyron. To tremulis this meant that perhaps four wheels was two too many.
Nov 21, 2012 concept cars exist at the apex point where dreams and technology meet. Top 10 20th century concept cars we hoped wed drive by. The gyron was a two wheeled fully encapsulated car that looked more like a tron light cycle than anything currently on the road. The 1961 ford gyron was from a period known as the atomic age and was a concept of its time. Wikimedia commons has media related to ford concept vehicles. These prototype cars were futuristic, but never made it into. The gyron was a wild concept that could only come from two inspirations. However as near as i can tell it didnt work very well and was only stable up to about 30 miles an hour. Buy online, view images and see past prices for vintage ford gyron futuristic concept toy car. One prototype was built and displayed in 1961 then lost in a fire. Just two years after completing the gyronaut, it was.
The two occupants of the vehicle were seated side by side and, when the vehicle was stationary, two small legs appeared from the sides. Invaluable is the worlds largest marketplace for art, antiques, and collectibles. This a very beautiful picture of a very unique concept car the ford gyron. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. Ford motor company brought its central rotunda building from the 1934 century of progress exposition back to dearborn and, from 1936 to 1962, recreated the excitement of a worlds fair exposition on its home turf. Ford mustang i project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Featured in wrights important design auction on december, 2012 is a remarkable studiomade presentation model of the ford gyron.
Oct 06, 20 the ford gyron was more than just another futuristic concept, it was one that predicted many things coming to automotive and was so outofthebox that it demanded notice. Engine, horsepower, torque, dimensions and mechanical details for the 1961 ford gyron concept. The ford gyron was more than just another futuristic concept, it was one that predicted many things coming to automotive and was so outofthebox that it demanded notice. He assisted in the design iterations for the mustang, the allegro, and many other concept cars, including the shelby bordinat cobra and its coupe version, the. Retro vintage kitsch 60s space happy coloring book postcard zazzle. Ford gyron model to cross the auction block hemmings.
Designers intended for a gyroscope to keep the twowheeled car upright, but the technology was too expensive for a show car. Syd mead announces retirement article car design news. All ready to be shipped to some outer space colony, or a futuristic city dome to be driven by the bladerunners and paranoid androids in various philip k. Looking ahead to a world with controlled freeway systems, the tires of the gyron were designed to deflate and inflate for travel at. List of ford vehicles project gutenberg selfpublishing. Small spots of rust otherwise nice condition, works great. The futuristic concept car debuted at the 1961 new york auto show and featured two wheels. The gyrox is not only something else but, says its builder, gyro transport systems inc. Ford gyron the twowheeled concept car, built by the ford motor co.
It was a time in americas history when it was at the very crest of its post war world war ii technological and economic prowess. Aug 02, 2017 car buying mistakes how auto dealerships rip you off be an expert buyer at vehicle dealers duration. The ford gyron was a futuristic twowheeled gyrocar first shown to the world in 1961 at the detroit motor show as a concept car designed by syd mead. The following 40 pages are in this category, out of 40 total. Future cars, technologically advanced automobiles ultra. It had a motorcyclelike design, with one wheel in the front and one in the rear. Ford gyron at auction december 2012 concept car model by alex tremulis. The dust and the glory may be the best book ever written about a. See more ideas about lit motors, history and nasa telescope. The ford gyron was a futuristic twowheeled gyrocar first shown to the world in 1961 at the detroit motor show as a concept car.
Notice that it only has two wheels it supposedly was kept upright with gyroscopes. It was a concept car that had a very futuristic, twowheeled design. Although tremulis died in 1991, getting the gyrox on the road will serve as a fitting tribute to his innovation and perseverance. Its sleek, aerodynamic body had only two wheels and was balanced by a gyroscope. According to a ford news release of the time, the 1961 gyron concept car was also equipped with a microphone at its rear, presumably so the oohs and aahs of passersby could be easily heard. One of tremuliss projects for ford was the 1961 gyron concept car. Behind the scenes of creature from the black lagoon. Ford gyron 1961 in the recent men in black iii, will smiths j character said that two wheels is like my minimum. Tremulis designed it to be fully gyrobalanced, but a gyroscope of that size wouldve been too expensive for a oneoff vehicle. The early 1960s was a time of both high hopes and high anxiety. One wheel was at the front and the other at the rear like a motorcycle and the car was stabilized by gyroscopes.
A brief history of concept cars, 192951 the old motor. Whether we crave for clean power, extreme performance or just plain weird shapes, we have the perfect prototype to thank for. In the first in a series of videos looking back at franks fascinating history in design, he recalls the new mini project, from working on themes to reimagining the gradual evolution of the original mini. Feb 29, 2020 thompson also worked on the futuristic spaceage ford gyron, a twowheeled concept car that was on display at the century of progress exhibit at the ford rotunda in 1961.
Syd mead, visual futurist, automotive designer, motion picture concept designer, industrial designer, and an inspiration to almost everyone working in these design fields, has died at the age of 86, succumbing to complications of lymphoma, which he had fought for the last three years. Theoretically the gyron balanced and road on twowheels via a gyroscope for stabilization. Ford motor company revealed its gyron concept car in 1961. Concept vehicle concept car history chicago auto show. Within this issue you will discover the following topics. You could almost completely demolish the gyrox in a headon collision claims one of its developers, and if its gyro were still spinning, shed. Ford gyron automobile displayed at the ford rotunda. This spaceage design concept was a twoseater, twowheeled vehicle that used a gyroscope to. Ford gyron concept car 1961 archives lucky ponylucky pony. The plan is to have the restoration completed and ready to drive on january 23, 2014, when alex tremulis would have turned 100 years old. A friend of mine called verushka pinned the image below of the skeleton riders, which i thought was just so cool, so i went in search of the site that it came from. People flocked to the dearborn rotunda when new car models were displayed, like the ford gyron, a futuristic twowheeled gyrocar introduced in 1961. The gyron debuted in 1961 and would be one of tremuliss last projects at ford, though he would continue to pursue the idea of a twowheeled gyro car long. Ford gyron concept car photos one of the models of cars manufactured by ford what others are saying ford gyron futuristic twowheeled concept gyrocar designed by alex tremulis and based on aeronautical principles, the inline front and rear wheels were stabilized by gyroscopes.
Lithotin battery powered 1961 ford gyron futuristic concept toy care made by ichida, japan. Some are fully functional, while others are little more than fiberglass shells. Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, syd did not design the 1961 gyron concept car. Gyrocars, twowheeled automobiles, have held a fascination for car designers, and the ford gyron is one. Alex tremulis, ford gyron presentation model dec, 2012 the ford gyron concept car of 1961 was envisioned as a car of the future. These fantastic vehicles showcase futuristic technology or bold styling and sometimes both. Ford gyron news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2009 learn how and when to remove this template message. Top 10 20th century concept cars we hoped wed drive by now. In tremulis advanced stying studio, he contributed to many wild concepts, including tremulis controversial gyron, as well as flying cars and nuclearpowered automobiles and trucks. The car was design by alex tremulis and featured a futuristic delta shape body and onepiece plastic canopy. The cirrus was a result of the ibcam british styling competition 1970, run by the daily telegraph magazi. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. The cirrus was a result of the ibcam british styling competition 1970, run by the daily telegraph magazine. See more concept car photos the gyron was a twowheeled vehicle based on the ideas of.
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