GM used to build everything from cars to trains to kitchen appliances (they owned Frigidaire for a while) Now they just build unreliable shitbox SUVs that nobody wants.
fun fact, they are supposed to have a plexiglass bubble that extends over the head of the driver. all 12 were converted to what is shown here in the 50s due to a lack of air conditioning
And whats crazy about that piece of rolling art is that it has dually front tires. I also think that it had a special steering setup to keep those dually fronts planted on the road while driving.
Back when companies took pride in their products, they made them last, and they mostly looked different. They were wildly unsafe and sucked at gas tho lol
Exhibition? Seems they were concept vehicles showcasing new technologies with a "world of tomorrow" aesthetic. Source: about 4 minutes of websearching (I'd rely on this data to answer a trivia question, but I'd suggest a bit of a deeper dive before you put money on it). Here is hoping someone else with more expertise can correct me if I'm a dumbass, or fill in any missing details.
Oh, so this was just a traveling showcase of future technology inside the vehicle. From the Wiki page "...each Futurliner featured a self-contained stage as well as a prominent deployable light tower, and each vehicle carried an exhibit featuring a single theme. The mobile exhibition covered such topics as jet engine technology, agriculture, traffic engineering, sterophonic sound, microwave ovens, television and other innovations."
12 tons will literally sink into asphalt, the very same asphalt GM ensured blanketed every square mile of this country. This rolling monument to hubris exclusive purpose was to advertise further desiccation of the public transportation transportation sector.
Originally manufactured for the 1939 New York World's Fair,[7] the Futurliners were later featured in GM's Parade of Progress, a promotional caravan travelling a 150-stop route across the United States and Canada
Huntergirl727
The blind spots on that thing...
FuzorFishbug
BTAS swat van
spitfires2000
"We're not a fan of public transport, like trains, so we make our vehicles look like trains" - GM (probably)
unluckyandbored
GM used to build everything from cars to trains to kitchen appliances (they owned Frigidaire for a while) Now they just build unreliable shitbox SUVs that nobody wants.
bilborrax
back when car companies werent afraid to put a nuclear reactor in a vehicle. its still running today
5ing
Cargo truck?
KAPTKipper
Made as a traveling sales/PR show.
BeverlyHillsBillie
Alas it's future was doomed.
familiarusername
They were show cars, all of them.
BeerCir
I've always loved the Art Deco style vehicles.
gtferrari
fun fact, they are supposed to have a plexiglass bubble that extends over the head of the driver. all 12 were converted to what is shown here in the 50s due to a lack of air conditioning
michiyl
Damn, those look so good!
cre8majic
Man, tho', they'd be so hot with th sun beating down on you and no a/c or optional shade
deaddogsmuggler
This just got me pregnant
RemlapBor
Looks like something out of a Fallout Game.
BrigidtheMechLady
Just what I was thinking
8647taco
Like the Sunnen diagnostic machine that's yellow instead of blue
Karpuze
A Nuka Cola truck...
Misteree8
It's almost like a game framed its aesthetic off a specific era in time.
RobJenkins
Herkheimer battle jitney
Durahl
I don't think I've ever seen something that is both beautiful yet still ugly 🤔
badgesweedontneednostinkingbadges
I like that "Iron Giant" helmet flair at the back.
KAPTKipper
marcnoel1052
Calicoastin818
In the future we don’t need windows
DukePhelan
Inside is all screens in place of windows showing ai generated landscapes, as the vehicle traverses the scorched landscape of a fallen civilization.
familiarusername
Is this the one that Dave Kindig restored?
dobroweigh
Back when an unmarked windowless van meant something different.
DippinDerps
And whats crazy about that piece of rolling art is that it has dually front tires. I also think that it had a special steering setup to keep those dually fronts planted on the road while driving.
ahleron
How awful. There are no windows except for the driver.
reijitamashii
With the current rate of car bloat, in a few years every Karen will be driving one of these to take little Bryceleigh to gymnastics class
kimwimgoddess
I don't think so, I think the pendulum is swinging back.
MakeUpSomethingNoOneHasUsedYet
ellopoppett
Mystery men, anyone?
ellopoppett
Testicles, rising.
rfleming1080
Back when companies took pride in their products, they made them last, and they mostly looked different. They were wildly unsafe and sucked at gas tho lol
TCooley79
trinxter
That was a tight fit.
yomammyboy
Had to let the air out of the tires a little
Winchester427
Musicosity
That's what she said
BabeAfett
Title of your sex tape. https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1bW5zMWk3azl3bThuaWxkYWZiMm1na2JoZjFob3c3cHAwcDd6dDRnZCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/BZhrhoxl6CFa98vTCZ/200w.webp
Brunomars1
That’s what she said.
Mart167
What's the MPG ?
Slugsie
About 3.5
Astramancer
Probably GPM
Sigge1981
What style is that? Art deco? Retro futurism?
Heelcat70
Heavy Metal?
EggFooYung
What was the intended purpose of it?
thomn8r
Each one housed a different futuristic-themed display (see the wikipedia link above)
MeatballRon
Exhibition? Seems they were concept vehicles showcasing new technologies with a "world of tomorrow" aesthetic. Source: about 4 minutes of websearching (I'd rely on this data to answer a trivia question, but I'd suggest a bit of a deeper dive before you put money on it). Here is hoping someone else with more expertise can correct me if I'm a dumbass, or fill in any missing details.
DemonicFruitfly
I wonder if that inspred the Herkimer Battle Jitney?
Viscouse
At least this one has windows.
Clayman8
I still dream that one day i can own one.
Groovechild
You mean the finest nonlethal military vehicle ever made?
WorkerLurker
Looks like it might squish you, id go with less lethal /s
LeftRightThere
Cyberpunk wiener mobile
FermentTheRich3000
RansomElwin
Junk it!
BongoBum
Expected this to be top comment.
skipweasel
If anyone's curious https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Futurliner
alcaray
Oh that makes sense. I couldn't figure out what it was designed to do.
SleepyKitten
Oh, so this was just a traveling showcase of future technology inside the vehicle. From the Wiki page "...each Futurliner featured a self-contained stage as well as a prominent deployable light tower, and each vehicle carried an exhibit featuring a single theme. The mobile exhibition covered such topics as jet engine technology, agriculture, traffic engineering, sterophonic sound, microwave ovens, television and other innovations."
aThingWithTheStufAndTheJunk
Picture of the stage since the video didn't bother showing the entire point of the vehicles:
MisterLemons
A 12 ton rolling stage. How wasteful.
LeMegachonk
It was a GM marketing tool. It wasn't meant to be anything else.
MisterLemons
Does that change the validity of the statement?
12 tons will literally sink into asphalt, the very same asphalt GM ensured blanketed every square mile of this country. This rolling monument to hubris exclusive purpose was to advertise further desiccation of the public transportation transportation sector.
If you can look past that, yeah, "it's shiny".
snarkybitch
Thanks i was wondering why there was no windows
MAN9000
Couldn't gather what it's actual function was. Does anyone know?
aThingWithTheStufAndTheJunk
Picture of the stage since the video didn't bother showing the entire point of the vehicles:
MAN9000
Yeah, that would have been nice. It actually is the stage. Cool! Thanks!
familiarusername
Originally manufactured for the 1939 New York World's Fair,[7] the Futurliners were later featured in GM's Parade of Progress, a promotional caravan travelling a 150-stop route across the United States and Canada
ParallelParkingInABurka
Seems they were really just made specifically for the travelling exhibition, each carrying its own exhibit & presentation stage.
MAN9000
Oh, so a cargo van for their exhibits as well as being part of the exhibit. Thanks!
chubbycat21
Great username btw
ParallelParkingInABurka
Why thank you!