Classic concept cars from the 1950s and 1960s

1967 Ford Allegro II concept
This ultra-cool 1967 concept brought back one of the original Mustang design concepts, featuring a sleek speedster-style widshield and flying buttresses on the rear deck.

1964 GM Roundabout concept
"The three-wheeled Runabout will appeal especially to women because it was designed for shopping and other daily errands. Men also find the Runabout a handy vehicle, well suited for commuting but also containing adequate load space for golf clubs and other recreational equipment," reads a press release for this 1964 Roundabout three-wheeler.

1963 GM X concept
The age of aviation brough on this GM concept from the 60s, which was described in a press release at the time as offering a "two-passenger cockpit has a jet aircraft atmosphere which promises an exciting driving experience."

1962 Ford Mustang I concept
Okay, this Mustang concept is far from the production model's muscular frame, but you get the idee. A two-seat, mid-engine sports car with a sweeping hood...the general idea is all there in this early mockup.

1956 GM Firebird II
The Firebird II boasted dual air intakes on its front end and a vertical tail fin in the rear.

1956 GM Firebird II
The Firebird II built upon the airplane style of the original prototype, expanding the cabin to fit more than just a driver. The car's coolest feature, however, was an early move toward the self-driving car, including a navigation system that would rely on a futuristic highway to tell it when to turn and when to stop.

1955 Lincoln Futura concept
Designed by Ford stylists Bill Schmidt and John Najjar Ferzely, the Lincoln Futura went on to serve as inspiration for the Batmobile featured in the 1960s "Batman" TV series.

1955 Lincoln Futura concept
How should our cars look today? These concept cars from the 1950s and 1960s give a glimpse at what the future could have looked like. Here, the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept uses a bubble-topped canopy and a blur effect to show how swift cars will be.

1954 GM Firebird I
The General Motors Firebird was a set of three concept cars designed by Harley Earl. The first model looks more like a miniature fighter jet than an automobile, and featured a gas turbine to move the car forward.

1954 Ford Thunderbird concept
This geometric Ford Thunderbird concept debuted in 1954 in an efford to create a serious sports car. The next year, the first generation Thunderbird was launched!

1954-1959 GM Firebird concepts
Former GM head designer Harley Earl stands with the three generations of Firebird concepts. Earl has been credited with the creation of the hard-top sedan and tail-fins.

1951 GM LeSabre concept
The LeSabre concept offered some high-end features for its time, including heated seats, adding to its futuristic appeal.

1951 GM LeSabre Concept
The dawn of the tailfin era of the automobile, the 1951 GM LeSabre borrowed some of the engineering and design elements from the jetplane, which had just recently replaced the propeller plane.