Here’s a shot by Andy at taking elements from the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt and applying them to Elwood Engel’s Imperial.
In case you forgot, here’s what the original Thunderbolt looked like:
What If? 1965 Imperial Thunderbolt
– Posted on July 2, 2022
Neat. Incredible waste of space, but a fascinating transition. Big marketing problem: By the mid 60’s, nobody remembered what the Chrysler Thunderbolt was anymore. Other than the real car junkies, of course.
How do the front wheels turn with those restrictive “skirts” in the way?
Must turn OK…Nash had a similar design in the early 50s.
Narrow-Track. The opposite of Pontiac.
Wow! This baby caught my eye!
I don’t know. 1965?
It looks more to me what someone’s idea in the early-mid 1950s of what a car from 1965 would look like.
I would have opened up the front wheel wells with the opening style used on the 1967 Imperial. The angle of its trailing edge would complement the angled silhouette of the rear fenders. I love it otherwise.
Looks like it put down the Stay-puft, took up a paleo diet and got lifetime gym membership. Very sharp and dignified.
This car is completely exaggerated and impractical. That’s why I like it.
That is amazing, it reminds me of the Classics from the 30’s and 40’s. Bill Mitchell and other designers grew up admiring and wanting these cars. They had quite an influence on their design directions. Exaggerated and impractical yes, imposing? Yes.
It totally works for me – with the exception of opened front wheel-wells, and might have been a success in 60s America.
Maybe the front skirts retracted back into the side panels when the engine started, and slid back in place when the car was parked?
Open up the front wheels, adda skirted rear wheelarch and we’ve got a deal!
Oh yeah! I like this a lot! Great work!
Some nice specific design elements. Overall, it has a bit of a sinister non-mainstream look. Something Cruella Deville might drive.
Agreed! It could also be a car driven by Harvey Dent, in the next reboot of the Batman franchise, to foreshadow his transformation into Two-Face. The car would look at home in Gotham.
I like this rendering, much more than the Thunderbolt. While I’m not a designer, I can’t shake the feeling there is a small detail missing thought. Maybe if the front fender skirt were removed, and the two-tone line followed the wheel arch? I’m not certain, but I think something to lead the eye of the observer could help.
It definitely has a very commercial appeal Hollywood art direction would demand. You’re right, it would need some refinements. But a very marketable look to begin from!
So, would a been “3 miles of car” with seating for two.
It`s talking to me, telling me everything i want to hear. If this car can`t stand out in traffic or parked, no car will.