Failed and Forgotten: Vehicles That Never Saw the Mainstream
- Author: Christian Hensen
Conceptual Vehicles and Prototypes: None were developed into mass-produced models. - Conceptual and prototype vehicles: they've lost their luster, essentially.
Let's cut to the chase. Before hitting the production line, there's a whole lot of research involved in bringing cars to life. Does the idea work? Will it sell? Can we afford it? Is it safe? Prototypes and one-offs help answer these questions, some ending up as examples of ambitious failure.
Nuclear vs. Spark Plugs
What makes a car unfit for mass production varies, but one thing is for sure: groundbreaking ideas sometimes struggle to stick. In the 50s, the internal combustion engine faced competition from a surprising source – atomic energy. Ford even dreamed of atomic cars capable of driving 8000 kilometers without emitting exhaust fumes. But the atomic car, with its radioactive baggage, was never meant to be.
Similarly, too-early technology almost sunk BMW's electric car, the E1, in the '90s. With a range of 200 kilometers, it would have made electric cars a viable city option. Alas, BMW's vision didn't stick, returning with electric cars only in 2013.
Economic factors have also sabotaged some notable concepts. Back in the 90s, Audi's record-breaking supersportscar, the Audi Avus, fell short due to Audi's diverted focus.
Now, not all disappointments are regrettable. Take the Rolls-Royce toilet in the Silver Wraith of industrialist Joseph J. Masuch, for instance. Its open-air dumping feature may have caused a wrinkle or two, but it certainly added some flair.
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More Pictures from this Gallery:
- Car
- Atomic Reactor
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- Ford Motor
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of the Regulation regarding the proposed atomic powertrains for vehicles, revolutionizing the automotive industry as we know it. Despite the creation of prototypes, Ford's dream of manufacturing atomic cars with unlimited range and zero emissions seemed supposed to remain a forgotten chapter in the history of the automotive industry. Despite numerous groundbreaking ideas, some vehicles, like BMW's electric E1 and Audi's Avus, never made it to mainstream production due to early technology or economic factors.
