GM Motorama Comes Back to Life at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
"I vividly remember the excitement, Motorama was elegant, spectacular and provided visitors a sneak peak into the future. People loved it. To GM, Motorama was a priceless experience. I believe the design of our Motorama cars had a profound influence on America’s golden era of Automobile design of the 1950’s and 1960’s".
~ Chuck Jordan, retired GM Vice President of Design
On Sunday, August 17, 2008, GM’s Motorama rolled onto the lawns at Pebble Beach for an exclusive engagement at the prestigious 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on the Monterey Peninsula in California. This was the Motorama’s first comeback since 1961 and helped commemorate GM’s 100th anniversary by showcasing some of the cars that have been inspiring designers and engineers for past decades and decades to come.
GM's "Dream Cars" were previously displayed on a traveling road show of concept cars (Motorama) that went from town to town from 1949 until 1960, and represented GM's vision of the future of the automobile. These vehicles were styled by some of the greatest names in the design.
General Motors transported twelve of its own Motorama cars, as well as five owned by Joe Bortz*, to this event. It has also helped to transport the Futurliner (owned by the National Automotive & Truck Museum of the United States). The first 1953, The Industry’s First Production Sports Car 1953 model Corvette ever shown at a Motorama, was on display courtesy of F.C. Kerbeck and the Oldsmobile F-88 roadster, owned now by John S. Hendricks, appeared courtesy of the Hendricks Collection at the Gateway Colorado Auto Museum.
Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn reminisces on visiting Motorama as a child and reveals his excitement on its upcoming presence at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
2008
Video Courtesy of General Motors Corporation
This unique event featured a revival classic Motorama showcase that included:
- 1939 Buick Y-Job
- 1951 Buick LeSabre
- 1951 Buick XP-300
- 1953 Chevrolet Corvette "Dream Car"
- 1953 Cadillac LeMans
- 1953 GM Futureliner
- 1953 Pontiac Parisienne*
- 1953 Buick Wildcat I
- 1954 Buick Wildcat II
- 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special*
- 1954 Firebird I
- 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 Roadster
- 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Sedan*
- 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Sport Coupe*
- 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne*
- 1956 Buick Centurion
- 1956 Firebird II
- 1956 Firebird II Titanium
- 1959 Firebird III
- 1959 Cadillac Cyclone
- 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Special Racer
Which is your favorite pick of the bunch and why?
2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is unveiled in Pebble Beach
In concert with GM Concept vehicles, GM also offered a sneak peak at the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and the next generation Cadillac SRX crossover, illustrating GM Design’s past, present and future as global innovators.
"Today, our designers have returned to the creative spirit of Motorama with our newest concepts," said Ed Welburn, Vice President of GM Global Design. "We’ve got our spirit back at Design – the proof is in our vehicles".
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