While some car line their generation to a divergence in the line of reasoning of an root , and bit by bit water themselves down over X , there are a few that are born not from be vehicles , but from truly baseless and outlandish construct that have game - alter dimension . Take a look at the eight concept cars below . Each wowed the world in one direction or another when the mantle was pulled back , and each went on to see yield and become the motorcar you know today – albeit generally with a great lot of change .
Ford Mustang
Early concept : Mustang I , 1962Aside from the name , and a subtle nod to the side scoops behind the door , the Mustang you know and theoriginalMustang do n’t have much in common . The Mustang I , as it eventually come to be called , was a straight sports car , and featured a four - cylinder engine behind the driver . In the grand scheme of car , it was somewhere between aCorvairand a Corvette , but it wasfast . Ford brought in racing picture Dan Gurney to repel a few lap ahead of a Formula One backwash , and it was only a duet seconds off of the F1 lap time .
Corvette (C2)
Early concept : Mako Shark , 1963The 2nd - contemporaries Corvette owe more than a few of its design elements to the original Mako Shark . Itself an evolved descendent of design legendBill Mitchell ’s 1959 Stingray race car , the Mako Shark ’s influence on theC2 , and to some extent , onevery Corvette ever since , is unmistakable .
Fun fact : Mitchell wanted the motorcar ’s coloring to fit the actual mako shark he had on his rampart , but the designing squad could n’t quite get it right . One dark , after Mitchell had provide , they hijacked the shark , paint it to touch the car instead , and told Mitchell they handle to match the Pisces . It worked .
MINI Cooper
other concept : Mini ACV30 , 1997Before BMW bribe the Mini steel and turned it into the MINI of today , the car had gone unchanged for decades . In 1997 , though , this ACV30 concept debut to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the marque ’s success at the famed Monte - Carlo Rally . Quite a bit of the design wound up being incorporated into the MINI Cooper , when the brand ’s refresh occurred in 2000 .
The Batmobile
other concept : Lincoln Futura , 1955In 1955 , Ford debuted the Lincoln Futura concept with zero intent to produce it . Intended purely as a window into the minds of the designers , the Futura ’s bold shape is the epitome of thewild cat valium - earned run average cars of the 1950s . While a few of its plan clue made their way to output cars in water - down forms , that ’s not why it ’s here . In 1965 , the manufacturer for the Batman TV series require a car . finally , George Barris was called in , and he took the Futura – not a copy , but the actual car in this exposure that made the car - show rounds – added a few tweak , and POW ! , the iconicBatmobilewas yield .
Plymouth Prowler
Early concept : Prowler , 1993The Prowler is one of the very few examples where a car debuts as an outlandish conception , then hits the streets with comparatively few variety . most 12,000 were made in its five years of production , before it fade aside into the annals of automotive account .
Chevy Volt
other conception : Volt conception , 2007The Volt construct , when it debuted nearly a decade ago , was among the very first plug - in hybrid concepts shown at one of the major automobile shows . Originally a reaction to the Tesla Roadster , itsproduction versiondidn’t quite partake in the same chiseled honorable feel .
Pontiac Aztek
Original concept : Aztek , 1999Before the Aztek expend a decade as a express joy stock touch theEdselfor the deed of biggest automotive calamity in history , and before it became the poster car for fabricated Albuquerquian drug manufacturers , it was actually a pretty novel concept , with tone that , well , did n’t quite translate to yield , and idea like an optional collapsible shelter that fare out of the rear .
BMW i8
former construct : Vision EfficientDynamics , 2009Thei8is a marvel in many respect , as a lightweight hybrid that ’s highly efficient yet can compete with a Porsche 911 head word to head . When BMW introduced the concept Vision EfficientDynamics in 2009 , it was now one of those cars that everyone wished BMW would have the formal to build , but deeply down knew would n’t befall . Rarely have so many been so glad to be so untimely .
Want more of the world ’s best Cars fork over straight to your inbox?Click here to sign up for our everyday e-mail .
Aaron Milleris theCarseditor for Thrillist , and can befound on Twitter . He ’s touched two of these original concepts in veridical animation .
Courtesy of BMW
Courtesy of Ford
Courtesy of GM
Courtesy of BMW
Courtesy of Ford
Courtesy of FCA
Courtesy of GM
Courtesy of GM
Courtesy of BMW
