Ralston Greenacre Concept - 1960
Following the modest success of the post-WWII Ralston Tigre MkII, the Ralston company looked to a more ambitious and glamorous execution with the Tigre MkIII, released in 1961.
The basis for the new car, again came from the General Motors' premium division - Cadillac - for the architectural hardware.
The Frame & Underbody was developed from the 1959/60 GM 'C' Bodies - a short-lived production run for GM, hence the availability to the Ralston Company. Wheelbase was set at 130 in (3,302 mm) for the standard sedan, and all the specialty 2-door cars. The long-wheelbase Limousine, Town Car and Specialty models sharing the GM 'D' Body 150 in (3,805 mm) with the Cadillac Series 75 / Fleetwood.
Powertrain was also Cadillac derived, incluing the 390 CID (6.4 Litre) V8 engine. Power was rated the same 345 bhp (257 kW). Cadillac was to retire this engine, with the development of a new engine of the same capacity for 1961.
One notable characteristic of all Ralston Tigre MkIII models are the reverse-opening doors. On all two-door cars, the doors operated on special hinges to move backwards along the body, offering easier ingress and egress for all passengers. For the four-door models, the front doors were conventionally hinged, per the originating GM 'C' and 'D' body vehicles, whilst the rear doors adopted the special hinged mechanism to allow rear passengers easier access. The adoption of GM's body-on-frame chassis permitted the omission of a conventional B-pillar on the four-door cars. A rarity at the time, but shared with the contemporary Lincoln saloons.
Notable styling features for all MkIIIs are the double stacked headlamps (supplemented by the */5th/* headlamp in the middle of the grille on the original MkIIIs). At the rear the tail lamps formed part of a 'rocket pod' assembly, also featuring the trademark Ralston 'X'. On the original MkIIIs this was supplemented by an additional '+' rocket form in the deep bumper treatment which extended all the way up to the trunklid.
Subtle fins graced the tops of the rear fender forms - a styling feature it appeared on the way out for most brands - but seemingly retained for premium brands - Cadillac - Lincoln - Imperial. The fin feature was also framed in chrome, offering the possibility for those customers who wished to choose a second additional colour for the exterior paintwork.
All of this was pre-figured by two concept cars. The 'Vampire' a bubble-top coupe in 1959 and 'Greenacre', a two-door hardtop wagon, in 1960. These two concepts shared the forthcoming platform of the Tigre MkIII (borrowed from the 1959-60 Cadillac).
The Greenacre, shown here displayed many of the features of the forthcoming MkIII, some in more extreme forms than were to appear on the car a year later. Retained from the concept were the basic design (already locked in for production), the 5th 'central headlamp' and the rocket pod tail-lamps - though these took on a more subtle form in the production car. Those items not to make it through to production were the tailfins (these were evidently on the way out of fashion in 1960), white-wall tires, and some of the wilder tri-tone colour patterning.
The 'Greenacre' Hardtop Wagon made it through into the production schedule of body types for 1961, mimicking the detailing of the other Mkii Tigre models. Though labelled as 'Two-Door Hardtop Wagon', they were affectionately known within the company as 'Greenacres'
This Lego miniland-scale Ralston Greenacre Concept (1960) has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 96th Build Challenge - The 8th Birthday, titled - 'Happy Crazy Eight Birthday, LUGNuts' - where all previous build challenges are available to build to. In this case Flickr LUGNuts' 95th Build Challenge, - "Designing the Ralston Legacy", - for the design of vehicles under the fictional 'Ralston' company. The models must include a 'X' design feature on the car or bike. A number of Ralston challenge vehicle concepts are possible in this challenge.
Ralston Greenacre Concept - 1960
Following the modest success of the post-WWII Ralston Tigre MkII, the Ralston company looked to a more ambitious and glamorous execution with the Tigre MkIII, released in 1961.
The basis for the new car, again came from the General Motors' premium division - Cadillac - for the architectural hardware.
The Frame & Underbody was developed from the 1959/60 GM 'C' Bodies - a short-lived production run for GM, hence the availability to the Ralston Company. Wheelbase was set at 130 in (3,302 mm) for the standard sedan, and all the specialty 2-door cars. The long-wheelbase Limousine, Town Car and Specialty models sharing the GM 'D' Body 150 in (3,805 mm) with the Cadillac Series 75 / Fleetwood.
Powertrain was also Cadillac derived, incluing the 390 CID (6.4 Litre) V8 engine. Power was rated the same 345 bhp (257 kW). Cadillac was to retire this engine, with the development of a new engine of the same capacity for 1961.
One notable characteristic of all Ralston Tigre MkIII models are the reverse-opening doors. On all two-door cars, the doors operated on special hinges to move backwards along the body, offering easier ingress and egress for all passengers. For the four-door models, the front doors were conventionally hinged, per the originating GM 'C' and 'D' body vehicles, whilst the rear doors adopted the special hinged mechanism to allow rear passengers easier access. The adoption of GM's body-on-frame chassis permitted the omission of a conventional B-pillar on the four-door cars. A rarity at the time, but shared with the contemporary Lincoln saloons.
Notable styling features for all MkIIIs are the double stacked headlamps (supplemented by the */5th/* headlamp in the middle of the grille on the original MkIIIs). At the rear the tail lamps formed part of a 'rocket pod' assembly, also featuring the trademark Ralston 'X'. On the original MkIIIs this was supplemented by an additional '+' rocket form in the deep bumper treatment which extended all the way up to the trunklid.
Subtle fins graced the tops of the rear fender forms - a styling feature it appeared on the way out for most brands - but seemingly retained for premium brands - Cadillac - Lincoln - Imperial. The fin feature was also framed in chrome, offering the possibility for those customers who wished to choose a second additional colour for the exterior paintwork.
All of this was pre-figured by two concept cars. The 'Vampire' a bubble-top coupe in 1959 and 'Greenacre', a two-door hardtop wagon, in 1960. These two concepts shared the forthcoming platform of the Tigre MkIII (borrowed from the 1959-60 Cadillac).
The Greenacre, shown here displayed many of the features of the forthcoming MkIII, some in more extreme forms than were to appear on the car a year later. Retained from the concept were the basic design (already locked in for production), the 5th 'central headlamp' and the rocket pod tail-lamps - though these took on a more subtle form in the production car. Those items not to make it through to production were the tailfins (these were evidently on the way out of fashion in 1960), white-wall tires, and some of the wilder tri-tone colour patterning.
The 'Greenacre' Hardtop Wagon made it through into the production schedule of body types for 1961, mimicking the detailing of the other Mkii Tigre models. Though labelled as 'Two-Door Hardtop Wagon', they were affectionately known within the company as 'Greenacres'
This Lego miniland-scale Ralston Greenacre Concept (1960) has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 96th Build Challenge - The 8th Birthday, titled - 'Happy Crazy Eight Birthday, LUGNuts' - where all previous build challenges are available to build to. In this case Flickr LUGNuts' 95th Build Challenge, - "Designing the Ralston Legacy", - for the design of vehicles under the fictional 'Ralston' company. The models must include a 'X' design feature on the car or bike. A number of Ralston challenge vehicle concepts are possible in this challenge.