A story of Aurora, an ugliest car ever made

Weird ONES After yesterday we presented an article about a weird-shaped car figure named 1958 Sir Vival, and then on this occasion, we presented a story about the next strange-shaped car that was also born in that period. Let's look at the following story;

This is the story of an abandoned prototype car named Aurora Safety Car, a concept car that was introduced in 1957 in New York that aspired to become the safest car in the world. Unfortunately, due to its peculiar exterior design and high price offered made it never went into the production line.

1957 Aurora Safety Car designed and made by a Catholic priest named Father Alfred A. Juliano. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rMdmEt)

This weird-shaped concept car designed by a Catholic priest named Father Alfred A. Juliano in the mid-1950s and the prototype made based on the 1953 Buick. At that time he wanted to create the safest car. But his plans did not go as expected and the model did not take long to fall into oblivion. Today, many considered it was one of the ugliest cars ever made.

Father Juliano drove by himself the Aurora Safety Car to a media event in New York City in 1957. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rMdmEt)

The Aurora Safety Car, like other abandoned prototypes that we all knew, is an unknown vehicle for the most passionate drivers. And the normal thing is that those who are aware of the car existence also know that, for many, this is one of the ugliest cars ever made. But that strange appearance was the result of the goal pursued by its creator, who was none other than to design and build a car with a passive level of safety that had never been seen before.

Wreckage of 1957 Aurora Safety Car before restoration laid to be forgotten and rotting in a field behind the garage. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2EBzDgz)

In this prototype, the car has been embedded in various safety features which not imagined yet in the time, such as side safety bars, the safety cage integrated with the body, safety belts or padded dashboard. Another surprising detail of the Aurora Safety Car prototype is the spare wheel is located at the front on low-positioned, so it also contributes to improving safety by adding an additional deformation space to absorb the energy in case of impact.

The Aurora was designed with safety in mind, but some auto historians call it the ugliest car ever made. (Picture from: https://nyti.ms/2Bpy5SI)

But this is not the only striking feature of the front of the Safety Car made by Alfred A. Juliano, because the entire front of the body made of fiberglass which filled with foam to minimize the injuries caused to a pedestrian (in the case of being hit by this car). As if it was one of the modern airbags for pedestrians.

Andy Saunders posed with his restored Aurora Safety Car. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2EBzDgz)

Its safety elements did not end there, because it also had a collapsible steering column and seats that could swivel to protect occupants in a crash. Another feature that makes the Aurora Safety Car is the most peculiar car prototype is it has an integrated hydraulic system activated by a dashboard control, with four jacks located at the ends of the car body that allowed the quick tires changing process.

The oddly bubble-shaped windshield, made from shatterproof resin, had no wipers because Father Juliano said it was so aerodynamic, raindrops blew away. The bubble curved out, away from occupants, to minimize head injuries. The roof was a stunning panoramic dome, with metal blinds inside.

1957 Aurora Safety Car displayed at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire UK. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2EBzDgz)

After the failed commercialization effort also meant the car project was failed. For decades, the Aurora lay forgotten and rotting in a field behind the garage because Father Juliano had an unpaid repair bill. Then, a British automotive enthusiast named Andy Saunders found the Aurora through an old photo in 1993, which had a billboard for the repair shop in the background. He reached the shop’s owner and arranged to buy the car for $1,500, sight unseen, and have it shipped to England.

And finally, the car was restored and re-shown again at the prestigious event of Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005. Since then, it has been displayed at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire, UK. And here we able to see, at least the Aurora had better fate better than Sir Vival were laid to be forgotten and being rusty slowly along with time. *** [EKA [21122018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ANDY SAUNDERS | AUTO BILD | NEWYORK TIMES]

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