Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas

by Sarah Schleuning, Ken Gross

A sensuously designed showcase of covetable concept or limited-edition cars by the best American and European manufacturers. Dream Cars presents some of the world's most breathtaking concept cars built between 1934 and 2001, a series of visionary designs that influenced the automotive industry and challenged notions of what is possible both aesthetically and technologically. Stunning all-new photography of design pioneers such as the 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Aerolithe, the 1951 LeSabre concept car, and the 1954 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 7 accompany lush images of dream sports cars, including the 1970 Ferrari Modulo and the 1955 Ghia Streamline X "Gilda." Meticulously restored and brought to life by all-new photography, these images trace a lineage of innovation in automobile design.

Comprehensive descriptions by celebrated automotive writer Ken Gross as well as drawings and scaled models further illustrate the imaginative force of individual designers and famed manufacturers. Surprising insights into familiar models like the minivan, based on the streamlined silhouette of the Stout Scarab concept car developed in 1936, are juxtaposed with startling new technologies such as the 2001 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model's ingenious use of fabric as a retractable skin. An extended essay by Sarah Schleuning explores the effects of aerodynamics and aeronautics on car design and considers how groundbreaking events-such as General Motors's Motorama-fueled the creativity of automobile styles.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 27, 2014

Reviews

[Jose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dream Cars:Innovative Design,Visionary Ideas is a 2014 Hardcover(Small hardcover)it was a very quick read for me,The Book is Euro-Centric with some American Entries,notably my Favorite General Motors Concepts,In the introduction they admit that it was originally going to focus on 50's American Concept Cars.They Neglected to include any Corvette Concepts many are very much so Beautiful and worth Being "Dreamed of" The Sting Ray ,The Mako Shark I and My Favorite The Mako Shark II(Later the less beautiful Manta Ray/Current Incarnation)Although I like the Lancia "Zero" Concept car,I believe the Pubisher,Rizzoli,Rizzoli USA,Rizzoli New York(In this Rizzoli/Skria Books in Association with The Museum of High Art or "The High",Presented by Porsche,the book is a companion to the exhibit.)should have stuck with the original cover for this book of the silver 1959 Cadillac Cyclone Concept car instead of the "Zero"Concept(Not to be confused with the Japanese Roadcar of Late70s)The cover is still nice,its just a shame they should have had the Caddy on there or at least alternative covers.I have other Rizzoli Books my Favorite being Gerald P Burton(Jerry Burton) Corvette:America's Sportscar Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow,I have the 2006 Version,the 2008 version(red leatherlike covers with emblem,under the imprint HLLA,same publisher.)and the 2010 Hardcover(Silver 1959 Stingray on Cover).And those books along with others they have done are huge and elaborate,while this book is puny in size and comparison,the photography is nice,with the cars posed against the black background,some of the cars are fascinating the Zero being one,the Caddie,the GM Firebird I,shame they did not do Firebird II and Firebird III as well.Other Neat Cars include the One-off Timbs Special,as well as the Ferrari Mondulo(module)Concept,The Buick Centurion.However only one concept car is featured from the 60s then it jumps to 70' and then to modern,and Its a BMW concept made out of Spandex?(VINA)Which is awful.And then of course you have the lengthy introduction which offers a view however snotty it might be,sounds exactly like a Liberal Museum Curator who offers words such as "Radical" or too Conservative.I mean why else would they feature a French ugly Looking Car that was a Electric Bubble Car?how is this a Dream Car?It sounds like a nightmare,A Beautiful Re-Created Bugatti makes up for it though,but some of the choices for the exhibit and this companion book make no sense,but ah that is art.I had a problem with Rizzoli before they had blocked me for no reasononFacebook and I emailed them,however I do not have animosity just upset they never answered a Frequent Customer of the books they publish.I had this book on preorder on Amazon and the cover is now different that is what upset as well as the short length of reading involved and biased choice of cars is even more so.I got this as a Deal for 25 on the 'bay,I would recommend any Automotive enthusiast whether of Styling such as myself or Gearhead period this book,despite the odd "Dream Cars"featured within.

[Manny Villa]

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[M]

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[Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read this book but just looked at the photos of these innovative and unusual cars which I think are conceptual cars, none ever actually mass produced, although I may be wrong about that. It you love cars this one is for you.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Features a collection of vehicles that were actually assembled either for art or for publicity. Each is photographed and profiled with words. Insightful.