Aluminum Odyssey - Sometimes innovation in the car world doesn’t start with mass production, but with bold ideas that push the boundaries of design. In the late 1950s, when chrome was king and fins stretched skyward, an American designer named Brooks Stevens was busy imagining something entirely different. His vision wasn’t just about style—it was about showcasing the future potential of materials, in particular aluminum. The result was a trio of fascinating prototypes collectively known as the 1959 Scimitar concepts, cars that looked forward at a time when the industry was still rooted in tradition.
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| The 1959 Scimitar 2-Door Hardtop Convertible. (Picture from; JustACarGuy) |
Backed by Olin Matheson Chemical Corporation, a company eager to highlight the advantages of lightweight aluminum, Stevens and his team at Brooks Stevens Associates joined forces with Reutter & Company, the same German coachbuilder known for its craftsmanship on early Porsche bodies. Together, they set out to prove that aluminum wasn’t just practical but also beautiful. What emerged was a family of three unique vehicles—each based on the Chrysler New Yorker chassis of 1959—yet dressed in bodywork that turned heads wherever it went.
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| The 1959 Scimitar 2-Door Hardtop Convertible. (Picture from; CarStyling.ru) |
Each car carried the “Scimitar” name, inspired by the sweeping curve of a saber-like blade, a theme visible in the upward motion of the body panels from front to rear. The detailing was unlike anything else on American roads at the time. Brushed and anodized aluminum trim, bumpers, wheel discs, and interior accents gave the cars a sleek, futuristic shimmer while simultaneously cutting down weight and reducing maintenance. The removable anodized quarter panels added both a sense of practicality and a distinctly modern aesthetic.
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| The 1959 Scimitar 2-Door Hardtop Convertible. (Picture from; JustACarGuy) |
The lineup began with the two-door Scimitar convertible, a boulevard cruiser equipped with an automatically retracting hardtop that neatly folded into the luggage compartment—a feature far ahead of its time. Then came the Scimitar Town Car Phaeton, a four-door that could transform itself with remarkable versatility. | -7mul_hThgk |
In one configuration, it served as a dignified formal sedan; with the roof partially retracted, it became a stylish town car; and with both sections fully stowed, it turned into a true open convertible. Completing the trio was the Scimitar station wagon, dubbed an “all-purpose sedan,” notable for its innovative sliding roof system that made cargo loading easier while offering open-air motoring.
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| The 1959 Scimitar Town Car Phaeton. (Picture from; JustACarGuy) |
When the cars debuted at the 1959 Geneva Auto Show, they instantly drew crowds. Two years later, they made their way to the International Automobile Show in New York, further cementing their reputation as design studies that challenged the conventions of the era. The attention they received was less about the possibility of entering production—they never did—and more about the statement they made: aluminum could redefine what cars looked like, how they performed, and how they were maintained. | 36L_OE7yqLY |
Today, these one-of-a-kind prototypes are treasured pieces of automotive history. The Scimitar Town Car Phaeton has found a home at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, while the station wagon is proudly displayed at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. They stand not as relics of failed production runs but as lasting examples of how creativity, engineering, and vision can come together to imagine a different path for the automobile.
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| The 1959 Scimitar All-Purpose/Station Sedan. (Picture from; JustACarGuy) |
Looking back now, the Scimitar cars feel like a glimpse into a parallel automotive future, one where lightness and elegance took center stage long before efficiency became a global priority. Brooks Stevens may not have changed the direction of the industry overnight, but his aluminum dream still resonates as proof that bold concepts can leave an imprint far deeper than sales figures ever could. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | JUSTACARGUY | STORY-CARS | CARSTYLING.RU ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
