Ford's gas turbine dream car of 1950s

Unique ONES - The production of concept cars by large automotive manufacturers such as the Ford Motor Company is usually carried out to present the results of product design studies equipped with technological advances, which will usually be applied to the latest car products made by them. And among the many concept cars that have been made in the past, not a few are equipped with advanced technological features beyond their time, coupled with unique shapes.

The 1955 Mystere show car was originally intended to showcase Ford’s infant gas turbine technology, but it soon earned a more direct role in the company’s product plans. (Picture from: MacsMotorCityGarage)

Just take a look at the following figure of the Ford Mystere which is one of Ford concept cars created by Bill Boyer from the Ford Advanced Styling Studio in the summer of 1954. However, the Mystere's actual construction was subcontracted to Creative Industries, a Detroit company that specialized in building show cars and prototypes for all the automakers, and had special expertise with fiberglass and molded Plexiglass structures.

The 1955 Mystere show car with 121-inches wheelbase made its debut in public at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Actually, the concept car with 121-inch wheelbase made specifically to be shown at the 1955 Detroit Auto Show, because of its styling elements it seemed the same as Ford's car production version of 1957, Mystere finally failed to launch at the expo. As you can see, beside it had a futuristic design bodywork, the concept car was planned to be equipped with a gas turbine as its power source.

The 1955 Mystere show car's cabin can accommodate 4 adult passengers in it with the steering wheel uses a 'throw-over' system, which means that the car can be steered from either side of the front seat, left or right. (Picture from: MacsMotorCityGarage)

As quoted from OtoBlitz, regarding this unique concept car, Tom Boyer, the designer had remembered that Mystere was a such of large-sized sophisticated car, and confirmed indeed the Ford Mystere was to have a strong influence on the bodyside molding of the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500, as well as the development of the tail fins and taillights of all Ford models from that era.

Auto enthusiast enthusiasm just before the 1954 Ford Mystere officially debuted at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. (Picture from: MacsMotorCityGarage)

Like most of the concept cars that appeared in that era, they were usually have appearence thick of styling cues related to the world of aviation and outer space which were indeed being a trend and booming in the 1950s. It could be said that Mystere served as an Ford's iconic car lines for reminder of the golden era of the 1950s.

Like most of the concept cars that appeared in that era, the 1954 Ford Mystere have an appearence thick of styling cues related to the world of aviation and outer space which were indeed being a trend and booming in the 1950s. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Uniquely, this Mystere Concept has a hinged-canopy which can be opened 70 degrees as a means for passengers to enter and exit into the cabin, then the front seats will rotate out and passengers can easily enter and exit through the half-open door. Not to forget, there's also the periscope-type scoop at the top of the windshield allows fresh air into the cabin.

The 1955 Mystere show car posed along with its designers and Ford Motor Company officials at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Overall the Mystere's canopy designed cabin has a large bubble roof made of glass, which also functions as a windshield and window. The cabin can accommodate 4 adult passengers in it with luggage and spare tire placed under the front hood. To support the performance of the Ford Mystere, which is described as a future sophisticated vehicle, it is not surprising that the car was equipped with many advanced features beyond its time.

The 1955 Mystere show car was originally intended to showcase Ford’s infant gas turbine technology, but it soon earned a more direct role in the company’s product plans. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

For example, there's a radio-telephone placed in the console between the front and rear seats, and the steering wheel uses a 'throw-over' system, which means that the car can be steered from either side of the front seat, left or right. Other modern features are a button to start the engine, as well as a television set behind the front seat.

Finally the American automotive giant released photos of the concept car for the first time in September 1955. Not only that, then the Ford Mystere Concept was also premiered at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. Due to the Dearborn automaker’s turbine technology wasn’t yet ready, so the car displayed as a prototype without an engine (rolling model), nevertheless it received wide press coverage at the time. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MACSMOTORCITYGARAGE ]

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