1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket Concept Car.
The 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket was a show car designed by Harley Earl and introduced to the public at the 1956 General Motors Motorama held at the Warner Bros. Theater in New York City. The Golden Rocket was a one-off prototype to showcase futuristic design and technology. Also known as the XP-400, the car resembled a rocket on wheels, with a sleek, aerodynamic fiberglass body finished in metallic bronze paint. It featured innovative design elements like a button-controlled tilt steering wheel, a split-window fastback roof, and a two-piece roof panel that rose automatically when the door was opened.
The Golden Rocket was powered by an upgraded 324-cubic inch Rocket V8 engine producing 275 horsepower and had a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Its interior was equally impressive, with blue and gold leather upholstery and a futuristic center console inspired by aircraft cockpits. The car was later displayed at various auto shows, including the 1957 Paris Motor Show, where it generated significant fanfare. Its radical design and advanced features, while impressive, were not practical or cost-effective for mass production at the time.
1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket Concept Car.
The 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket was a show car designed by Harley Earl and introduced to the public at the 1956 General Motors Motorama held at the Warner Bros. Theater in New York City. The Golden Rocket was a one-off prototype to showcase futuristic design and technology. Also known as the XP-400, the car resembled a rocket on wheels, with a sleek, aerodynamic fiberglass body finished in metallic bronze paint. It featured innovative design elements like a button-controlled tilt steering wheel, a split-window fastback roof, and a two-piece roof panel that rose automatically when the door was opened.
The Golden Rocket was powered by an upgraded 324-cubic inch Rocket V8 engine producing 275 horsepower and had a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Its interior was equally impressive, with blue and gold leather upholstery and a futuristic center console inspired by aircraft cockpits. The car was later displayed at various auto shows, including the 1957 Paris Motor Show, where it generated significant fanfare. Its radical design and advanced features, while impressive, were not practical or cost-effective for mass production at the time.