Chevrolet Aerovette (1976–1980)

• A stunning mid-engine Corvette concept with a gullwing canopy and sleek wedge body.

• Initially powered by a rotary engine, then a small-block V8.

• Came this close to production before being shelved in favor of the front-engine C4.
  
   

Ford GT90 (1995)

• Wild wedge-shaped successor to the GT40, with a quad-turbocharged V12 pushing out 720hp.

• Packed with F1-style tech and bold, angular design.

• Served as inspiration for future Ford supercars, but never saw production.
  
  
   

Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor (1984)

• Better known as the car from the movie “The Wraith.”

• Twin-turbo 2.2L engine, space-age looks, and a top speed near 200 mph.

• A functional prototype, but never meant for public roads.
  
  
   

Cadillac Sixteen (2003)

• A majestic 16-cylinder luxury car concept, hand-built with opulent materials.

• 13.6L V16 engine pushing 1,000hp, with cylinder deactivation for fuel economy.

• Intended to revive Cadillac’s “Standard of the World” image. Never greenlit.
  
  
   

Chrysler Atlantic (1995)

• A retro-inspired, art deco coupe styled like a 1930s Bugatti.

• Powered by a straight-eight made from two Neon engines fused together.

• Too exotic (and too expensive) for the era, but one of Chrysler’s most beautiful concepts.

Buick Y-Job (1938)

• Arguably the first true American concept car.

• Built by GM’s Harley Earl, showcasing features like hidden headlights, flush door handles, and power windows.

• Purely a styling exercise, but hugely influential for decades to come.

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Pontiac Banshee (1964)

• Sleek two-seater sports coupe that looked suspiciously like the later C3 Corvette.

• Internal politics meant GM didn’t want it to upstage the ‘Vette—so it was canned.

• Multiple Banshee concepts followed in later decades, none saw mass production.

Lincoln Futura (1955)

• A wild, futuristic concept that was eventually modified into the original 1966 Batmobile!

• Giant fins, bubble canopy, and chrome overload—it screamed ‘50s optimism.

• Built by Ghia in Italy for $250,000… and then sold to George Barris for $1.

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Oldsmobile Aerotech (1987–1992)

• A speed-record-breaking missile built to showcase Oldsmobile’s tech potential.

• Powered by a turbocharged 2.0L or quad-cam V8—hit over 400 km/h on the track.

• Stunning, but far too radical for any showroom.

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Ford Shelby GR-1 (2004)

• Modern reinterpretation of the Daytona Coupe, with a front-mounted V10 and carbon-fiber body.

• Concept blew minds at auto shows, but Ford paused all V10 development shortly after.

• Remains one of the greatest “what if” moments in modern American car design.