Coolest car design ever built?

[t walgamuth]

I think so. This is the Pontiac Vivant.

Technically should not be called a Pontiac but it was built by Herb Adams when he was an engineer at Pontiac. It has a Pontiac based engine with a load of Pontiac HI Po parts in it from super duty engines etc. It has a tube frame, advanced suspension based on racing concepts, two seats, a hand formed aluminum body and the perfect touch the Pontiac brake integrated 8 lug wheels (like my Bonneville had).

The tail is heavily reminiscent of the Alfa Bat designs of the early fifties, while the front is the best rendition of the Pontiac dual nostrils which were based on the Ferrari Formula one car, the 163 (IRRC) which Phil Hill drove to the championship in 1961.

it is the most perfect design I ever saw. Still looks astonishing today.

Link to my thread on the Mercedes forum for pics:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/open-discussion/390214-coolest-car-design-ever-built.html#post3770517

[Jerry Forrester]

I think so. This is the Pontiac Vivant.

Technically should not be called a Pontiac but it was built by Herb Adams when he was an engineer at Pontiac. It has a Pontiac based engine with a load of Pontiac HI Po parts in it from super duty engines etc. It has a tube frame, advanced suspension based on racing concepts, two seats, a hand formed aluminum body and the perfect touch the Pontiac brake integrated 8 lug wheels (like my Bonneville had).

The tail is heavily reminiscent of the Alfa Bat designs of the early fifties, while the front is the best rendition of the Pontiac dual nostrils which were based on the Ferrari Formula one car, the 163 (IRRC) which Phil Hill drove to the championship in 1961.

it is the most perfect design I ever saw. Still looks astonishing today.

Link to my thread on the Mercedes forum for pics:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ml#post3770517

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not my cup of tea.

[8E45E]

To me, a production 1961 Pontiac is far better design; especially in a two door hardtop.

Craig

[DEEPNHOCK]

Styling is such a subjective matter....
Yes, this does have the Bat styling queues...
Looks like it was for sale pretty cheap, too...




(opinion)
The proportions seem off a bit.
The cabin area is too small, making the driver look too big in there.
I can see where Jim Hall might have liked the side profile, as I see some Chaparral shape there...

[Chris Pile]

It's nice, but perfection is a debatable term...

[jclary]

Yawn... another sign I'm old

[t walgamuth]

Tough crowd!

I know, its ok but not as cool as a 49 Studebaker truck.

[Gunslinger]

It's nice, but perfection is a debatable term...

Ask the Borg...they constantly look for perfection. Of course you would be assimilated in that search.

[studegary]

I wouldn't put the styling above many production cars, let alone one-off prototypes, including the Jaguar E-Type and the 1953 Studebaker Starliner.

[skyway]

...and the original GT-40?

[studegary]

...and the original GT-40?

I was just giving two examples. It wasn't meant to be an all-inclusive list.

[556063]

This one will always have my vote in this category. And, at the rate the REAL Chrysler was bringing concepts to reality in that day, it was a real possibility we would see something close in showrooms, until Chrysler became the poster child for what was going to happen the next 15 years to the Industry. This is right up there with the Studebaker Sceptre with me:

https://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/dodge/charger-1999.html

[studegary]

This one will always have my vote in this category. And, at the rate the REAL Chrysler was bringing concepts to reality in that day, it was a real possibility we would see something close in showrooms, until Chrysler became the poster child for what was going to happen the next 15 years to the Industry. This is right up there with the Studebaker Sceptre with me:

https://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts...rger-1999.html

I like that Charger better than the one that is in production, but it just doesn't "do it" for me. I am not anti-Charger. I bought the first Dodge Charger in this area (January 1966 - mid-year introduction) and I also owned a 1969 Charger.

You mention the Sceptre. If Studebaker put that into production, I would have purchased that instead of my 1966 Charger.

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

OOOHHH... this is such a difficult question but for me it would have to be a three way split between the Citroën SM, the Studebaker Dictator Business Coupe, and the 1959 Pontiac Bonneville 4 door Vista Roof. I know this list is pretty damn incongruent but there is a method to my madness.

[DougHolverson]

The Barris Batmobile. Duh! Followed by the '51 Studebaker. "It's so neato cool! It looks like a rocketship!" Well, it deeply impressed my circa 9 year old self enough to set into motion spending the years getting into Studebakers, which lead to Google, Art Deco, Atompunk, and Dieselpunk.