A breath-taking design that should have been the kind of style to choose over the ugly cheap tin boxes we ended up with in the 1980s with only a few exceptions like my all original mint condition 1987 Pontiac Fiero SE; a design inspired by Bertone's legendary X/19... Another mid-engined car I have had the honour of owning and driving, and understanding how it truly earned the "Legendary" title. So I think this was the better way to go in design concepts for the GM production lines, as I was never interested in any of there boring boxes... But I would have definitely have bought one of these Phantoms... I think it's truly a work of automotive artistic genius.
That front windshield would have been a huge problem for the driver though, having that crease in the middle. Bet the lights at night in the rain would have been really bad. But all in all, a very nice looking concept car.
Bill Mitchell was a very strong and opinionated design leader who was not well liked by a faction of upper GM management and the GM board toward the end of his tenure. They made sure he was succeeded by Irvin Rybicki who was also a brilliant designer, but much easier to control. This led to the era of "lookalike" GM cars in the early to mid 1980's that never would have happened under Mitchell. As a final insult to Mitchell just before his retirement, they removed the Phantom from a special presentation he had planned for a GM Board of Directors show and presentation. As he was just about to be pensioned off, Mitchell no longer had the pull to fight back. Even in major corporations where millions of dollars ride on product decisions - it still often comes down to relationships between the major decision makers involved.
Go back to a Japanese cartoon called [ Speed Racer ] and look up the episode that a car was built called The GRX . Japan saw this outline shape 1st , also there were some design Q's like the Buick Rivera and Oldsmobile sprinkled in this car .
Pontiac were fools. Concept cars go against the grain of company visions all the time. Sometimes when they get produced those concepts go on to change the image of that brand and make the company money. This thing is sweepingly beautiful and had so much potential. I'm sure it would have won the hearts of many people that wouldn't have considered buying a Pontiac.
Pontiac weren't the fools; they would've ruled the world if GM brass-- the ACTUAL fools-- hadn't been willing to destroy the entire universe if they had to to keep Pontiac from constantly upstaging and embarrassing their beloved Chevy division.
...as the Fiero and especially Banshee would have, enormously, if GM brass hadn't basically put their entire company out of business just to stop Pontiac from upstaging and embarrassing Chevy constantly.
A breath-taking design that should have been the kind of style to choose over the ugly cheap tin boxes we ended up with in the 1980s with only a few exceptions like my all original mint condition 1987 Pontiac Fiero SE; a design inspired by Bertone's legendary X/19... Another mid-engined car I have had the honour of owning and driving, and understanding how it truly earned the "Legendary" title.
So I think this was the better way to go in design concepts for the GM production lines, as I was never interested in any of there boring boxes... But I would have definitely have bought one of these Phantoms... I think it's truly a work of automotive artistic genius.
I love it! Madame X! We will have a Madame president soon! ❤❤❤
That front windshield would have been a huge problem for the driver though, having that crease in the middle. Bet the lights at night in the rain would have been really bad. But all in all, a very nice looking concept car.
Sad part is it probably would have sold for those very reasons today.
Bill Mitchell was a very strong and opinionated design leader who was not well liked by a faction of upper GM management and the GM board toward the end of his tenure. They made sure he was succeeded by Irvin Rybicki who was also a brilliant designer, but much easier to control. This led to the era of "lookalike" GM cars in the early to mid 1980's that never would have happened under Mitchell. As a final insult to Mitchell just before his retirement, they removed the Phantom from a special presentation he had planned for a GM Board of Directors show and presentation. As he was just about to be pensioned off, Mitchell no longer had the pull to fight back. Even in major corporations where millions of dollars ride on product decisions - it still often comes down to relationships between the major decision makers involved.
Amazing looking car❤❤❤❤
Nice
Go back to a Japanese cartoon called [ Speed Racer ] and look up the episode that a car was built called The GRX . Japan saw this outline shape 1st , also there were some design Q's like the Buick Rivera and Oldsmobile sprinkled in this car .
Pontiac were fools. Concept cars go against the grain of company visions all the time. Sometimes when they get produced those concepts go on to change the image of that brand and make the company money. This thing is sweepingly beautiful and had so much potential. I'm sure it would have won the hearts of many people that wouldn't have considered buying a Pontiac.
Pontiac weren't the fools; they would've ruled the world if GM brass-- the ACTUAL fools-- hadn't been willing to destroy the entire universe if they had to to keep Pontiac from constantly upstaging and embarrassing their beloved Chevy division.
Looks like the stutz bearcat.
Now that Phantom looked so very nice, how long was it, over 5 meters? It looks huge yet sleek.
Thanks Chris 👍💪✌
I might be mistaken, but I was under the impression it was inspired by the Phantom Corsair, hence the name of the car
Would have made a great pimp-mobile!
Let me guess..they didn't build it because it would cramp the Corvettes style.
...as the Fiero and especially Banshee would have, enormously, if GM brass hadn't basically put their entire company out of business just to stop Pontiac from upstaging and embarrassing Chevy constantly.