The Chrysler Atlantic: A Daring Concept With a Straight-Eight Built from Neon Engines

Retro Brilliance - In a time when the automotive world was rapidly shifting toward computer-driven precision, the Chrysler Atlantic emerged as a reminder that some of the most captivating ideas begin with nothing more than imagination. The mid-1990s were filled with bold experiments, yet few carried the emotional pull of a car shaped not by wind tunnels, but by dreams of the grand touring machines of the 1930s. That spirit of nostalgia—filtered through modern ambition—became the foundation for one of Chrysler’s most audacious creations. 

The Chrysler Atlantic stood as the decade’s most spectacular concept car, designed by Bob Hubbach and inspired by the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Its origin story is as unconventional as the car itself. Bob Lutz, then a Chrysler executive, sketched an evocative coupe on a napkin during a flight home from Europe, letting the curves flow from memory rather than measurement. He shared it with design chief Tom Gale, who relayed only the mood of the drawing to the design team to avoid confining their creativity. Inspired by pre-war French coupes, designer Bob Hubbach shaped that atmosphere into metal, channeling the romance of the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic while allowing the form to evolve naturally into something distinctly American. 

The Chrysler Atlantic rode on a modified Dodge Viper platform and featured a rear-mounted four-speed automatic transaxle linked by a torque tube, a layout later echoed in the Plymouth Prowler. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The result was a silhouette that made no attempt to hide its dramatic personality. A sharp central ridge traced the length of the car, echoing the iconic Bugatti while giving the Atlantic a visual spine. Oversized arches wrapped around 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels, and the body—hand-formed in steel—flowed in long, uninterrupted lines that seemed sculpted by motion itself. The gold finish accentuated those curves, letting the light sweep across them the way the sun dances across vintage coachbuilt cars.

The Chrysler Atlantic featured a Bugatti-inspired central ridge and oversized wheels beneath flowing, hand-formed steel bodywork, with a gold finish that let light glide across its curves like sunshine on classic coachbuilt designs. (Picture from: R/Spotted in Reddit)

The interior mirrored that same devotion to period aesthetics without feeling trapped in it. A single linear accent connected the dashboard to the center console, linking the cabin’s four seats with a sense of deliberate symmetry. Mother-of-pearl gauges glowed softly against beige and deep red upholstery, creating an Art Deco atmosphere that felt luxurious but not theatrical. Unlike many concept interiors of its era, it carried restraint, allowing artistry to speak through materials instead of excessive ornament. 

The 1995 Chrysler Atlantic powered by a 4.0-liter straight-eight engine—a configuration nearly extinct by the 1990s—by joining two 2.0-liter Dodge Neon blocks end-to-end. (Picture from: BelowTheRadar)

What lay beneath the long hood was even more unexpected. Chrysler engineered a 4.0-liter straight-eight engine—a configuration nearly extinct by the 1990s—by joining two 2.0-liter Dodge Neon blocks end-to-end. Producing around 360 horsepower, it paid direct homage to the smooth, elegant eights that powered pre-war luxury cars. More than a clever engineering trick, it was a declaration that the Atlantic honored its inspirations not just visually, but mechanically. 

The Chrysler Atlantic showcased its period-inspired interior through a clean linear layout and glowing mother-of-pearl accents that created a refined Art Deco ambiance. (Picture from: MotorCities.org)

The car wasn’t merely a showpiece, either. Built on a modified Dodge Viper platform, it used a rear-mounted four-speed automatic transaxle connected by a torque tube, a setup echoed in the Plymouth Prowler. Even though its gearing wasn’t optimized for its massive wheels, the Atlantic could drive with poise, surprising many who expected a static sculpture. Chrysler even allowed select journalists to get behind the wheel on closed roads, further blurring the line between concept and reality. 

The Chrysler Atlantic showed how far Chrysler’s designers and engineers could go when given the freedom to explore the emotional side of carmaking. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Talk of production surfaced briefly, with whispers ranging from a limited run of 100 units to full-scale manufacturing, but the logistics and potential pricing made the dream unlikely. Still, the Atlantic demonstrated how far Chrysler’s designers and engineers could stretch when given freedom to explore the emotional side of carmaking. It stood as proof that creativity didn’t need to be diluted by practicality to have impact. | bW0ArGs2xJU |

Today, the Chrysler Atlantic resides within Stellantis’ heritage collection, occasionally appearing at concours events where it continues to draw crowds almost three decades after its debut. In a modern landscape dominated by electrification and efficiency, the Atlantic feels like a reminder of a different kind of daring—one rooted in artistry, nostalgia, and a belief that even in a high-tech world, there is still room for cars born from pure imagination. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTOR1 | STORY-CARS | CARSTYLING.RU | BELOWTHERADAR | MOTORCITIES.ORG | WIKIPEDIA | BRIANROEMMELE IN X ]

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