“2000 Chevrolet Corvair”
I’m back with another round of AI-generated cars that never were (but should have been). As before, the images are exactly as generated by the DifusionBee (a port of Stable Diffusion), and have not been manipulated in any way. The caption of each photo shows what I fed the AI. As always, I’m open to suggestions and requests in the comments section.
We’ll open this round with a request from the comments on my last post that turned out so well it ended up being my lede photo: An updated Chevrolet Corvair. The 2000 model pictured above nailed the grilleless front end, while adding (presumably) hidden headlights, giving it a stunning, all body-color face. Has there ever actually been a car that was both completely grilleless front end and with hidden headlights? I can’t think of one offhand, but maybe our readers can come up with something.
“1963 Cadillac Corvette”
We all know that the C6-based 2003-2009 Cadillac XLR was the Corvette’s first platform mate, but what if it wasn’t? When asked to produce a 1963 Cadillac Corvette, the AI produced the entirely plausible example above, combining period Corvette and Cadillac styling cues more or less seamlessly. I particularly like how the Cadillac eggcrate grille fits neatly behind the Corvette bumpers.
“1977 Cadillac Corvette”
Since the 1963 Cadillac Corvette worked out so well, how about a 1977 model? A little more angular, as you would expect, but those heavy chrome bumpers aren’t doing the ‘Vette any favors. It looks a bit too much like a Briklin, and we all know how that turned out.
“1987 Cadillac Corvette”
Maybe a C4 Cadillac Corvette would be more to your liking. I actually think the bladed rear fenders kind of work here.
“1956 Buick Corvette”
How about some Buick to go with your Corvette? All the C2 Buick combinations I tried looked miserable, but the Buick styling cues really work on the C1, like this 1956 Buick Corvette.
“1962 Cadillac Corvair”
In the real world, Cadillac wouldn’t make a compact car until the 1981 Cimmaron. In the imaginary world, this 1962 Cadillac Corvair looks more like an Oldsmobile from the front, but it does have that weird windshield kink Cadillacs from this period had. And of course, it has fins, even though they were quite passé by 1962.
Let’s continue this theme of flavors that Mother Nature never intended.
“1970 Mustang Camaro”
Here is perhaps the most unholy matrimony of all: A 1970 Mustang Camaro. I’ll leave it to the commenters to figure out which elements came from which car, but underscores the idea that the pony cars were stylistically more similar than they were different. Go far enough back in time, and all cars really do end up looking the same.
“1959 BMW 300SL”
Almost as blasphemous, what of the legendary 300SL has been a BMW, and not a Mercedes Benz? The front end looks almost as good with the BMW roundel and twin kidney grilles.
“1973 Ford Impala”
I tried all kinds of combinations of “Ford Impala” and “Chevrolet Galaxie,” and most of them came out looking horrible. The 1973 Ford Impala above was less horrible than most, but it still comes off looking like one of those bizarro-world Australian market cars, at the same time both odd and familiar.
“1971 Lincoln Eldorado”
Meanwhile, this 1971 Lincoln Eldorado somehow manages to capture the worst elements of both.
“1957 Chevrolet Thunderbird”
On the other hand, I tried various combinations of Chevrolet Thunderbird, and they all look fantastic, like the picture above. The two-seater Thunderbird is iconic, and it easily wears the 1957 Chevy look, which is equally as iconic. Other than the usual weird cropping, I seriously considered making this the lede photo for this post.
Let’s finish out with a few more time travels:
“1959” Ford Falcon
The compact Ford Falcon didn’t come out until 1960, but had there been a previous generation, it probably would have looked a lot like the car above.
“1970 Chrysler Town and Country”
This 1970 Chrysler Town and Country looks wood-tastic! It even has wood grain on the door pillars.
“2010 Porsche 928”
Porsche quit selling the 928 after 1995, but what if there had been a second-generation model? Perhaps it would have looked a little like the image above.
“1965 Acura NSX”
This 1965 Acura NSX looks both completely period correct, and yet is still recognizably an NSX (along with gaining a racing number).
“1959 Chevrolet Camaro”
Lastly, I’ll leave you with this proto-pony car, a 1959 Chevrolet Camaro.
“Has there ever actually been a car that was both completely grilleless front end and with hidden headlights?”
Countach?
Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac Firebird older gen
C4 Corvette
Porsche 914.
You could argue that there are 2 little grilles next to fog lights.
Add the Porsche 924/944 as well.
My first thought was the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt. It was a concept car but they did build a handful of them.
This is interesting. The 1957 Chevrolet Thunderbird works quite well and the 1970 Mustang Camaro is great. Given the results for the 1970 Chrysler Town & Country, I am surprised it deviated so much from the real one.
Perhaps the wood is what throws it off???
I was about to say the same thing – the AI does OK with the theoretical mashups, but ask it for the real thing and you get – whatever that is. Sort of like those people who sound impressive with their theories, until you ask them a specific question you already know the answer to and they are stumped.
Not just different but considerably worse. An unholy piling of Lincoln bladed fenders and design cues on a shortened (!) GM clamshell wagon core.
The actual ’70 T&C was one of the handsomest executions of the big fuselage Mopar’s handsomest body style, as far from the “Cab Stupid” coupe discussed a couple months ago while still being a ’70 C-body.
The only concept above I don’t care for is the “1970 T&C”, since there already was a real model sold. And, looks too over the top.
“Has there ever actually been a car that was both completely grilleless front end and with hidden headlights?”
Late 80’s Pontiac Trans Am. I owned the attached 1986 for over 30 years. If air dam was not working correctly it would run hot. Also prolonged idling the single electric fan would not keep it cool.
One I’d be interested in seeing is a 2010ish Triumph Spitfire. I’ve always loved the shape of the Spitfire, but I’d imagine that the relative bloat of post 2000 cars would have dulled the lines quite a bit.
What would a 1980 Lincoln Blackwood look like? Luxury SUV based trucks were never much of a thing, much less in the 1980s. And Lincoln’s cars back then were suitably boaty.
Thanks for this. Some of these are really brain bending. I do love the retro Corvair.
I’d be more interested in seeing a 1970s version, to see how they’d resolve the Lincoln bladed fenders with the Ford truck clamshell hood. The pickups went to a flat hood for ’80 while Lincoln was just starting to move away from the boatiness, a little bit.
The Corvair looks really good. A few slightly off details, and I’m not sure about front end lift at speed, but for open source AI that’s its amazing. I even like the color. As for more ideas, how about a 1995 Volvo 122S (Amazon)?
The Buick Corvette isn’t too far from reality. GM dream cars included Pontiac and Olds versions of the sportster. The back end looks appropriate, with part of the ’55 Buick taillights.
Oh, that Lincoln Eldorado! I’m going to get some nightmares about it. That narrow, recessed grille…*shudder*.
The 1977 Corvette is hilarious: It’s the stock car, beaten with the broughamstick. I’m almost surprised GM didn’t build this as an upper-crust trim package (“Corvette Classic Brougham LN?”, although calling it a Cadillac would have been a step too far.
And the 2010 Porsche 928 is fantastic. I kind of want one.
Still holding out for a 1975 Ford Taurus. And I further the 1970s Lincoln Blackwood suggestion!
I really like the first pic of the Corvair. None of the Corvettes do anything for me.
Yeah; lead in “Corvair pic” is an awesome looking ride. The “Cadivettes” are just nuts.
These are fantastic. The Corvair is a beauty for sure. The 1959 BMW 300SL as well. The 1973 Ford Impala looks like a generic video game car.
In the same vein how about a 2000 Lotus Elan. Will it look like a Miata?
Or a 1990 Tatra T77?
Or a 1960 Lada Niva?
Thanks for all the suggestions – Keep them coming! I’ll try to get to as many of these as I can for a future post.
Tom, As I own one, I would love to see one of the most unusual looking cars, with a later update: How about a 1990 Tatra T2-603 and the original 3-lamp version, the T-603?
I’ll be happy to send the results to the Tatra Register UK if you like.
Some of these are quite good (2000 Corvair) and others are amusing (1970 T&C, 1971 Lincoln Eldorado). Others don’t work so well for me; a ’59 Camaro with Ford-like big single round taillights?
As to grill-less cars with hidden headlights, the list is a mile long, starting with gobs of mid-engine cars: Fiero, MR2, Fiat X1/9…moving on to gobs of European exotics.
Agree about the “59 Camaro”, it would have Impala tail lamps.
The ”2000 Corvair” looks good, just that in reality it would have flush headlights as modern cars.
These are so great and bizarre.
It activates some kind of “car OCD” in me; especially the wheels.
Such brutal mashing-together of shapes and forms.
Some work and some don’t and some are hilarious. Some are scary.
But all are very entertaining.
Nice work! As long as the design mashup isn’t too polarized, the results appear impressively quite nuanced.
these remind me of the real Mitsuoka cars like the Buddy and the Rock Star
The 1970 Mustang Camaro looks awesome. I mentioned here the other day that the ’70 Mustang was my least favorite. Ok, actually that would be ’74 to ’78, but I digress…
Adding the ’69 Camaro cues is a major improvement!
One question though: Many of these pictures have the front or the back of the car cropped off. Is anyone else experiencing this?
The weird cropping is coming is a side-effect of the AI. Not exactly sure why it happens.
That’s too bad, because I’m getting a ‘71 Chevy vibe from the ‘73 Ford Impala. The cars of my childhood, all mashed up! I would’ve like to have seen more of the front end of that one.
My parents had a ‘66 Impala 2 door fastback, then a ‘68 Impala Custom hardtop coupe, and traded it in on what became my first car and my Dad’s first Ford, a 2 door ‘73 LTD.
While the ‘71 Impala was the next generation, despite their immense size, I still had a soft spot for them, especially the ‘72 (although I like the ‘73 taillights better).
These are really cool, Tom. Keep ‘em coming!
I’ve been specifying 3/4 as one of my options in Midjourney and it seems to help with the weird cropping. Not every time, but I’m having more consistent results.
I used the Midjourney AI to generate a 2022 Pontiac Trans Am.
1975 Packard Clipper
1975 Packard Patrician
The 2000 Chevrolet Corvair would have been a hit with the public … Ralph himself would like this car.
The BMW/Benz almost works, looks like it needs a little fine tuning, as pictured it looks a little frumpy. The Porsche 928 looks like it has a little too much Japanese influence. The headliner Corvair front end doesn’t work to my eyes. Back doesn’t look too bad, but the front, not so much.
Still an amazing exercise!
Going back several years this was an actual car. I entered the competition, didn’t win.
Had I done so, there’d be a Mustang front end and a SBF powertrain up for sale.
The HQ Holden doesn’t need this dubious ‘improvement”
No photo. Attempt #2
Really like the Corvair. The rear half of this car is simply delicious!
I’d like to see a late model Camaro with a modified/modernized 1970 Firebird nose.