An unconventional styling experiment of Bertone on the Ferrari 308 GT4

At that time, after more than 15 years of designing and developing the cars from other brands, and through the Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow was a sign of the return of Bertone, a famous Italian coachbuilder to design the Ferrari's.

1976 Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow concept built on the Ferrari 308 GT4 chassis by Bertone. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35Megnu)

While previously the design of the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 car has been known to represent a mixture of calmness and tradition from the Maranello-based premium car manufacturer, the design of the Ferrari Rainbow seemed to imply an experimental styling that was far from conventional.

1976 Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow concept is known is the first Ferrari's mid-engined sports car with a retractable hard-top. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35Megnu)

In fact, this model is reportedly not intended to be produced in general, therefore Bertone is able to interpret its design themes without obstacles but still adhere to the vehicle's functionality.

In construction, Rainbow uses the same chassis as the Ferrari 308 GT4 combined with a 3.0-liter V8 engine that is believed to be capable of producing power of 250 horsepower. And by the chassis cutting as long as a 10 cm, giving a compact and aggressive look to the Rainbow figure.

Intrerior view of 1976 Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow concept. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35Megnu)

The Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow prototype was introduced for the first time at the 1976 Turin Motor Show, which immediately highlighted the uniqueness of its design with for the first time the Ferrari's engine mechanism mounted in the middle, precisely behind the driver's seat.

1976 Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow concept could be said to represent a form of the Italian automotive industry's self-confidence. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35Megnu)

In addition, Rainbow also displays a distinctive exterior design with a boxy shape, which unfortunately is not commonly seen in 1976 (but later became a kind of trend starting in the early 1980s).

However, the design of the Ferrari Rainbow could be said to represent a form of the Italian automotive industry's self-confidence, in the period of automotive history, as it is known that Italy is favored by its experimental style on a variety of new 'bold' design concepts.

Currently, the existence of the Ferrari Rainbow prototype is believed in the Bertone museum in Italy, after it was almost auctioned by the RM Auctions at the Villa d'Este event held in March 2011 ago. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING]

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Calà, a Lambo that has never saw the light of day

In the late 1980s and towards the 1990s, Lamborghini was incessantly looking for designs that would replace their old model Jalpa. The aim is to produce cars that have competitive prices and can be produced in larger quantities.

Lamborghini Calà concept was built on the previous Gandini-styled P140 prototype by Italdesign. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2WrtCJZ)

Then in 1989, the design of the car was given the code name Lamborghini P140 was born. A few years later, Bertone's concept car inspired another Italian coachbuilder named ItalDesign to build a new body for the model but with a softer design called the Lamborghini Calà. Yes, Calà was built on the previous Gandini-styled P140 prototype.

Interior view of Lamborghini Calà prototype by Italdesign. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2KVDDcX)

Cal Lamborghini (also known as Cal Italdesign) is a concept car designed for Lamborghini by Italdesign. It was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show 1995. It was a fully functional prototype that was never successfully produced. The name comes from the Piedmont dialect in northern Italy and means "look, there!"

Calà was imagined by Italdesign to meet Lamborghini's needs for Jalpa's replacement, which stopped production in 1988 at the request of the then owner of the company, Chrysler. When Chrysler sold Lamborghini to an Indonesian firm, Megatech in 1994😯, Cala's design began to take shape, but when Megatech sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group in 1998, the concept was canceled. Finally, Jalpa is replaced in 2003 by Gallardo that said to use the principles of Calà as inspiration.

Lamborghini Calà concept is powered by a mid-mounted V10 engine, which produces a maximum power output of 400 PS and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2WrtCJZ)

Calà is powered by a mid-mounted V10 engine, which produces a maximum power output of 400 PS (294 kW; 395 hp). It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels, with an aluminum chassis and a handmade carbon-fiber body. Just one Calà was ever made and shown as a concept car at the 1995 Geneva International Motor Show😭, and it’s long since been forgotten by just about everyone.

Its exterior appearance is seen borrowing elements from several other Lamborghini iconic production vehicles, such as the headlamps from Miura and the Countach's widescreen. The highest speed is estimated at 291 kph (181 mph), while the acceleration time of 0–97 kph (0–60 mph) is under 5 seconds. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOTRADER]
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A gorgeous Diva concept of Alfa Romeo

It is undeniable that many beautiful cars are produced by Alfa Romeo, one of the leading Italian automotive manufacturers that attracts the attention of the world's automotive enthusiasts. You could be remembered the most beautiful car ever made by this manufacturer named Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is known also the most sought classic cars in the world.

2006 Alfa Romeo Diva Concept displayed at the 2006 Geneva International Motor Show. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2yrsI89)

And a beautiful car species was re-born by this manufacturer and named Alfa Romeo Diva Concept which was revealed at the 2006 Geneva International Motor Show. This beautiful car was developed in a joint effort between the Fiat Auto’s R&D arm Elasis, the Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile, and Franco Sbarro’s famous Espera automotive design. It was also built to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Espera design school.

2006 Alfa Romeo Diva Concept used a 3.6-liter 'Busso' V6 engine mated with a semi-automatic Selespeed gearbox, which features six forward speeds and a paddle-shift feature mounted on the steering column. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2yrsI89)

The Diva Concept was built on an Alfa Romeo 159 chassis, and beneath that curvaceous body, panels were a heavily modified 159 chassis reinforced with carbon-fiber, suspension, and brake systems that were electronically adjustable and a 3.6-liter 'Busso' V6 engine. 

2006 Alfa Romeo Diva Concept had a minimalist interior and good power to weight ratio actually puts it somewhere in the Lotus Elise category. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2yrsI89)

And thanks to a clever new exhaust system and a semi-automatic Selespeed gearbox, which features six forward speeds and a paddle-shift feature mounted on the steering column made the engine developed the power of 290 horsepower and propelled the car from 0–60 mph in five seconds, which said is more than enough for a 1,100 kg weighted car.

2006 Alfa Romeo Diva Concept also featured a clever new exhaust system and made the engine developed a power of 290 horsepower and propelled the car from 0–60 mph in five seconds. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2yrsI89)

While its exterior appearance is brought the typical Alfa Romeo front grille for the nose. The car’s overall look and feel were influenced by the iconic Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale which can be said as the modern presentation of the legendary car.

The car looks nice and purposeful squat, those small but voluminous proportions and the butterfly doors whose windows fold into the roof. Described as having a ‘Formula 1 edge’ when new, the chiseled double-decker front diffuser looks to us a bit like the snout of the Boano-designed Alfa Romeo 750 Competizione of the 1955.

The Alfa Romeo Diva Concept’s lightweight, minimalist interior and good power to weight ratio actually puts it somewhere in the Lotus Elise category. But the boys from Lotus should not worry as the Diva never went into the production line. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ALFA ROMEO | PAULTAN | CLASSICDRIVER]

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The 1950s space age car prototype of Packard

Unique ONES - Indeed, if we talk about the beautiful cars that have been made by world car manufacturers, it will never end. Especially if the car bears the big name of an American automotive manufacturer and is supported by a beautiful touch of Italian automotive designers It seems like it has become a guarantee, that the car will succeed in attracting the world's automotive enthusiasts.

1956 Packard Predictor concept was known as a collaboration result between Packard Motor Car Company with Carrozzeria Ghia. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

This can be seen in the figure of the Packard Predictor concept car which is a four-seat concept car was known as a collaboration result between Packard Motor Car Company, an American automotive manufacturer with Carrozzeria Ghia, a well-known Italian coachbuilder. This concept car was designed by designer Richard Teague and built by the Turin-based coachbuilder, under the supervision of Packard design chief Bill Schmidt in mid-1956.

1956 Packard Predictor concept debuted at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

The Predictor concept car is built on a Clipper chassis that is extended to 222 inches, with a width of 85 inches, height 54.125 inches, and weighs 2,721 kg. It has an exterior appearance inspired by the spacecraft that was popular at that time and has also inspired many other four-wheeled vehicles. Then this futuristic concept car is also powered by a 352 cubic inch OHV V8 engine, which is capable of producing 260 hp of power and 380 lbs.ft of torque.

1956 Packard Predictor concept sat on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, United States. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

And the Packard Predictor also has various advanced features of its time, including curved-designed windshields that cover the front to the sides, recessed headlights, terraced fenders with hood and rear deck, with a curved, box body. In addition, Predictor also featured retractable panels for its roofs and rear windows.

The wheel steering and dashboard view of the 1956 Packard Predictor concept. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

Whereas in the interior, the Predictor offers all the technological comfort and luxury, by pinning the Packard's push-button Ultramatic transmission, then there's the button panel to open-close the roof, to adjusted and rotated as desired the seat with changeable materials (one side of the leather, while the other made from fabric).

1956 Packard Predictor concept is powered by a 352 cubic inch OHV V8 engine, which is capable of producing 260 hp of power and 380 lbs.ft of torque. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

Ghia completed the project in an amazing 90 days, just in time for the Predictor to debut at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. As a result, a perfect and awesome concept car that appeared in a blend of typical styles of an American muscle with Italian elegance.

Although it looked very futuristic and invited the enthusiasm of many people at that time, Packard was unable to bring the Predictor concept into its production line, due to the financial problem befell the Studebaker-merged company a few months before the concept car completed.

Fortunately, the Packard Predictor prototype had been built in advance, so that the real shape can be seen today. Today, this concept car is still in good condition and You can see it on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, United States. *** [EKA [10052020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DEZO'S GARAGE | CONCEPTCARZ ]

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Replica of 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II

We are still talking about the past cars with unique shape and one of them is Tucker Torpedo, which is one of the great what-if stories of automotive history. Preston Tucker hoped to revolutionize the industry with a car unlike any other on the road at the time. However, due to various problems, he only managed to build 51 vehicles before closing the shop.

This replica car was built by Roy Tucker and taken of the 1971 Buick Riviera as the car basic. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2L6WSk2)

To get rid of any confusion here, this is not the real production Tucker 48 sedan that now sells for at least a million bucks. It’s a one-off-build after one of the sedan’s early concept sketches proposed by Alex Tremulis in December 1946, called the Tucker Torpedo Prototype II that inspired by an early concept drawing of the Tucker Torpedo by George Lawson.

An early version of the Tucker Torpedo designed by George Lawson, Preston's Chief Designer at the time before he replaced by Alex Tremulis. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35DnxOw)

This replica car was built by Roy Tucker (no relation to the original Preston Tucker) with taken of the 1971 Buick Riviera as the car basic which has been almost completely modified using parts from LaSalle, Pontiac, and many were made specifically to match the original design.

A Tucker Torpedo design proposal by Alex Tremulis. This design was based on George Lawson's design but incorporated some improvements. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2SDVeu4)

This replica car tried to reproduce the previous prototype from 1946 which actually featured a strange nose and adopted a trident shape that was at a glance similar to the Studebaker's nose, flanked by a fender that spins independently with the wheel, each also carrying a headlight.

Headlamp on the nose only works for a high beam. In addition to this, you will see a specially made rear end, with elaborate side exhausts, fins, wheel covers, and additional ventilation. Then there is a small hinged part on the roof meant to open to avoid hitting your head when in or out.

A rear three-quarter view of another Alex Tremulis design study. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35DnxOw)

This replica car is not entirely similar to the original design there are still striking differences, such as the position of the car's driver. If the original concept made by Alex Tremulis (from a sketch drawing) shows the position of the driver in the middle, but in this replica, the position of the driver is the same as in a car which is generally located on the left.

Besides the car's replica looks to appear with a more dominant boxy design (perhaps due to built on the basis of the 1970s car), while the original concept with a more rounded shape in accordance with the 1940s design trends and had no middle-fin. Well, this isn't the perfect match, but it's definitely one of the weirdest and coolest vehicles a collector can have.

Rear three-quarter of the replica of 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3fqv7k8)

Having completed an exterior tour of the Torpedo, inside you’ll find a full vinyl upholstery, classic three-spoked steering wheel, front seats that swivel sideways for easier access, roof sides that open up for the same reason as well as a built-in radar detection system, which might need an update to work with today’s technology.

The car is fitted with a 455 cubic inch (7.5 liters) Buick V8 gasoline engine mated to an automatic transmission, said to work like a charm most of the time. However, the owner says a tune-up would be useful along with a higher capacity alternator. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | VINTAGE NEWS | GMAUTHORITY | KUSTOMRAMA | AUTO YAHOO ]

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Thom Taylor's Frankenstude

The car owner always wants to change the appearance of their car that is no longer attractive, out of date, and so on. Usually, they collaborate with the builders to realize these desires. This also happened to an old Studebaker owned by Thom Taylor.

Thom Taylor's Frankenstude's body constructed by Greg Fleury. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Szg2mu)

He began to draw his first sketch in 1990 for heavily customized that will be done on his-owned Studbaker which is considered to be the most outrageous, and ridiculous car. The idea was originally inspired by the Larry Erickson designed CadZZilla, which was built by Boyd Coddington.

Thom Taylor's Frankenstude was a 4-wheel drive car used the GMC AWD components in the front and early Corvette's parts in the back to make an independent suspension with disc brakes. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Szg2mu)

Thom Taylor took the design sketches of the car which was later given the name Frankenstude to Boyd Coddington, but he took a pass. Fortunately, he found Steve Anderson who was keen on having a radical car, slowly but surely the car project began to materialize.

The car body construction was carried out by rod constructor Greg Fleury who combined the body from the 1948 Starlight Studebaker, took the nose and hood from the 1951 model, used the front fender from the 1950 model while the rear fender was taken from the 1947 Studebakers.

Thom Taylor's Frankenstude used the tuned Chevrolet L-98 350-cid V8 engine mated with he GM 700R4 automatic transmission system and installed it onto the custom tube frame. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Szg2mu)

Then for the car's power source used the tuned Chevrolet L-98 350-cid V8 engine that able to produce power up to 400 horsepower. Greg then combined the engine with the GM 700R4 automatic transmission system and installed it onto the custom tube frame.

The HOTROD magazine listed Thom Taylor's Frankenstude in its "Top 100 Hot Rods That Changed the World" list. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Szg2mu)

Thom's vision was to make Frankenstude as a 4-wheel drive car, so Greg used the GMC AWD components in the front and early Corvette's parts in the back to make an independent suspension with disc brakes.

Moving into its interior, the dashboard components are also built from scratch. And all interior works are also carried out by several specialists. Then its body was painted by the House of Kolor in Custom Purple color.

Thom Taylor's Frankenstude got 17-inch wheels and one of a kind steering wheel both custom made by Boyd Coddington. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2YvBqNe)

The car got 17-inch wheels and one of a kind steering wheel both custom made by Boyd Coddington. Uniquely, the car's doors are built to first move away and then turn vertically like in scissor-style ones.

Besides that, many parts were made from scratch to match the design that Thom had made. The process of working on the body of the car takes approximately 2 years while solving technical problems of approximately 5 years. Indeed, working on this project requires a lot of time.😑

When Frankenstude was shown in public for the first time, it immediately makes a hit. Even the famous magazine HOTROD listed this car in its "Top 100 Hot Rods That Changed the World" list. No wonder why. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AMCARGUIDE]

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