1954
BONNEVILLE SPECIAL
"We always had a one or more concept cars on display,
starting with the first Corvette. Other dream cars included the Buick Wildcat, Cadillac
LaEspada, Pontiac Firebird. I'm not sure which one this was."
 |
The following
was contributed by Old Cars Editor, Chad Elmore: "The
car in the photo is one of two 1954 Bonneville Specials that were built as Pontiac's 1954
Motorama cars. One Bonneville was painted a reddish bronze color, the other green. It had
a fiberglass body and a straight-eight engine. Pontiac and Oldsmobile (the F-88) had
Corvette-inspired show cars that year. Both Specials survive; I believe the bronze one is
restored, the green one is now white and fairly rough." |
1954
BUICK WILDCAT II
"I took this photo in London,
Ontario."
 |
Following is
the January 17, 1954 Buick Motor Division News release: "This rakish sports convertible is Buick's new Wildcat "dream"
car, described by its designers as the only sports car with truly American styling. Built
of fiberglass and mounted on a 100-inch wheelbase, the new Wildcat features radical new
front fender styling that exposes the under side of the fender and the front end
suspension. Headlamps are mounted on the cowl with parking and directional signal lights
on the front end, underneath the fender shroud. Painted a bright blue with white leather
trim, the Wildcat is powered by a standard Buick V-8 engine equipped with four carburetors
that boost its horsepower output to 220. The Wildcat will make its public debut at the
General Motors Motorama in New York City."
The Wildcat II now resides at the Sloan Museum in Flint,
Michigan. It sported plenty of the 1950s most popular design features. The body was made
of fiberglass and was the inspiration for the Chevrolet Corvette. |
