The Space Age Hits the Road: Visionary Car Designs in America

1956 GM Firebird II all-wheel suspension

The highlight of GM’s 1956 Motorama, the Firebird II featured an exaggerated space age design, with enormous dual air intakes in the front, the requisite futuristic bubble canopy top, and a pronounced vertical tailfin. The company used titanium for the body because of its lightweight yet durable properties. While it has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal, it’s quite difficult to use in manufacturing. In order to mold the body panels, the titanium had to be heated to 920 degrees Fahrenheit. This experimental model also pioneered an all-wheel independent suspension with power disc brakes.

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