1977 Phantom Concept
Written by Bill Bowman
The 1977 Phantom concept was the creation of former GM styling director William L. Mitchell. It was an experimental automobile reminiscent of the classic cars of the 1920s and 1930s.
Unlike most experimental cars that flaunt a new styling idea or introduce a revolutionary concept to the car-buying public, the Phantom was simply a personal expression of its designer. With this black coupe, Mitchell told the world, "This is the kind of car I’d like to drive."
Mitchell wanted the car to have the same dramatic proportions as the great cars of the Gatsby days. He started with a Pontiac Grand Prix chassis and moved the seats and controls to the rear, giving the long-hooded car a rakish look.
A variety of European influences were found on the two-seater, including the use of chrome to wrap under the front fenders, wide chrome moldings, and high, sharp fender lines. The use of big conical wheel discs, was typically found on British-made classic cars.
The car’s surface features are subtle: two rows of louvers atop the hood and two opening louvers in the side of each front fender. Multi-unit headlights foreshadow the 1980s, as do small roll-down sections of otherwise fixed door windows.
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