Random Video: “Seeing Green, 1937”

Another instruction film from Chevrolet and General Motors this time about the use of traffic signals. The variety of different styles across the US was just staggering. It also talks about a national standard being worked on. What’s more interesting is the look on how the lights actually work with its mechanical brain-

 

GM / Cadillac V8-6-4

Today Engine-Cylinder Deactivation transforming fuel hungry V8’s to V4’s when cruising to save fuel, but this approach is nothing new. Back in the late 70’s with the fuel crisis General Motors were first to give this a go on a commercial scale. The result was the V8-6-4 which as you can tell by its name would run on 8,6 or 4 cylinders depending on demand. This new engine, developed by Eaton Corporation, was rolled out virtually the entire Cadillac range from 1981.

Mazda Roadpacer AP

With a name like that and those crisp pseudo 70’s muscle car looks you should be expecting, speed and power. Well it had one of those sort off!!!!

Random Video- GM’s view of the future from 1956

The self-drive cars been around for many years, here’s GM’s take on it from 1956. To be honest there’s a few predictions that are currently on production vehicles, changeable displays, communications and navigation. Thankfully a singing operator isn’t one of them-

General Motors Bison

General Motors really were on the money with the future world that this concept truck would drive in. They saw a world of standardised containers that would be automatically loaded, unloaded and stored by electronically controlled equipment to increase efficiency, way back in 1964.

GM Runabout

A 3 wheeled car, designed  to be small, easy to park and still have room for 2 adults and 3 children. Sounds like a modern concept straight out of Geneva, but this was debuted in 1964 General Motors Futurama Exhibit at the New York World’s Fair. The wheel at the front would turn 180 degrees allowing the car to almost turn on its own length. A hint of its age however is the 2 detachable shopping trollies that slots into the boot, very off its day I think you’ll agree.

General Motors Futurliner

Back in 1940 GM toured the USA bringing the Parade of Progress to the public. This was in part a marketing tool for GM but also brought the advances of the day to masses for both its car design but also ata point in time when times were simpler and technology was on the brink with huge advance coming thick and fast and GM were the ones showcasing it such as microwave ovens and mixed in its new cars. In order to transport and show case this event GM built the Futurliners, 12 purpose built trucks to both show the advances in vehicle design and technology but they would also double as both a mobile advertisement and the stages. Due to the USA coming into WW2 only two tours were undertaken. However in 1953 GM dusted them off and once again drove them around the country until 1956. The most unusual aspect of the design was the centrally seated drivers position up high in the glass bubble. To cope with this the cab had additional air conditioning fitted to keep them cool. A recently fully restored one sold for $4,320,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Automobile Auction. This kind of touring show just doesn’t happen these days and at the time they were a huge deal with entire towns turning out to see them.












For more information-

http://www.futurliner.com/

http://www.fullboost.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=8379