Favorite Concept Car

David Clarke

Quite often here in the blog we throw you a teaser of things to come in the automotive market place: renderings, concepts, and a mule or two for those lucky enough to live that long. Alas, most concepts never make it past their auto show debuts before–they’re put out to pasture, absorbed by obscure private collections, or just crushed. In a lot of cases, we mourn their passing or rage against the automakers that won’t build one for us to buy. So my question is: out of all the concepts you’ve seen over the years, which one would you want? My pick would be the 1997 Pontiac Rageous. For more on the Rageous, follow the jump.

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The “Rageous” debuted at the 1997 North American International Auto Show when Pontiac’s new bold style was at its height (excessive cladding, red gauges, and wings on everything). This concept was no exception. Painted “Red Rush,” outfitted with a crazy spoiler and ram air hood, the Rageous was far from subtle. If you think it looks a whole lot like a 2002 Firebird, you wouldn’t be far off. This car was slated to have the same LS1 drivetrain rated at 315hp, adding some serious grunt to those 315/30r22 tires it’s rolling on. As high performance as this car is though, I’d like to think that this car (had it been released) would have been the ultimate SPORT utility vehicle. The body has no B-pillar, from roof to floor. The doors were instead hinged on the A-pillar and the C-pillar, a lot like a Honda Pilot is today. Add to that the fact that the rear glass is a hatch-and-tailgate assembly, which later appeared on the ill-fated Aztek, and you’ve got a 117in wheelbase car that can haul a 4×8 sheet of plywood and a passenger! It predated the modern “crossover” by years, and if it doesn’t define “sport utility,” I don’t know what does.

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Posted at 1:26 am in Concept Cars, David Clarke, Pontiac

Comments

tunerman626
Apr 3, 2009 at 3:16 pm

im to young XD

Katakuna
Apr 2, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Mine was the Chrysler Atlantic.

Lawdog1911
Apr 2, 2009 at 9:15 am

Mine was the 1998 Dodge Viper concept with the real wide tires out back. Also the Copperhead and the Sidewinder truck.

ramwrangler616
Apr 2, 2009 at 5:44 am

Dodge Copperhead

___nes___
Apr 1, 2009 at 8:58 pm

The first Mustang Concept! Was it the Mustang 1?! Correct me if I’m wrong!

Cal26Stang
Apr 1, 2009 at 8:54 pm

Nissan R390GTR road car, correct name?

retroman
Apr 1, 2009 at 5:49 pm

Ford Shelby Cobra and Daytona Coupe concepts. These were cars that were ready to be pushed to production. It’s a shame they didn’t get more coverage.

toyotadriver008
Apr 1, 2009 at 3:15 pm

toyota FT-HS

SickWhip909
Apr 1, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Easy 1989 Pontiac Stinger Concept
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oBg8C6PMYo

FordRulesAll
Apr 1, 2009 at 12:58 pm

FORD BRONCO

Chris Bicknell
Apr 1, 2009 at 7:58 am

I still have the magazine that this was in from back in ’97. Very cool to see it again.

Bourkemaster
Apr 1, 2009 at 6:02 am

I had these pictures on my wall as a kid.

Armoredhaulin
Apr 1, 2009 at 5:21 am

Mine would have to be the 1999 Pontiac GTO Concept…even 10 years later, it still has the lines of the cars today.

http://www.netcarshow.com/pontiac/1999-gto_concept/1600×1200/wallpaper_01.htm

Moparmaniac07
Apr 1, 2009 at 5:06 am

http://www.allpar.com/cars/me412.html

Chrysler ME412, was actually slated for production until the Germans killed it.

Bergy350
Apr 1, 2009 at 4:36 am

Probably have to go with the Chevy Cheyenne concept truck. With a 500 hp. supercharged 6 liter V8, and a interior with saddel leather and berber carpet, and with an awesome multifunctionality bed, its the greatest truck never made!
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/autoshows/naias2003/chevrolet/cheyenne.html

Brett Powers
Apr 1, 2009 at 4:27 am

Mine is the 99-04 Mustang Boss 351 concept. Just think, a Mustang with a V10!

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/138_0402_boss_351_v10_mustang/index.html

Maffew
Apr 1, 2009 at 4:07 am

Wow… this is a tuffy. I’ll go with the Jeep Hurricane.

http://www.crowfootdodge.com/images/fun/2005-Jeep-Hurricane-Concept-1280.jpg

Tcassa
Apr 1, 2009 at 3:41 am

My favourite concept car is the Holden EFIJY. This car is cimply stunning.

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/conceptcar?modelid=20001