Timeless Antique Machines

Manta Ray (1953)

The Manta Ray looks like a turbine attached to a car on the front. It is highly appealing in terms of its appearance with three backlights settled on the three designed wings at the back. The car was built by Glen Hire and Vernon Antoine back in California. The car featured a handmade fibreglass body which was folded into 14 section. The best feature is the design on its instrument panel and its perfect placing near the steering wheel. No wonder the makers have taken extra effort on looking after the appearance of the car than its functioning. In 1959 the car was sold to L.L Lacer of Junction City, Kansas.

Ghia Steamline X Gilda (1955)

A car that resembles a rocket, with two pointed structure raising from the back giving a sharp edge to the cars body line. Designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi the car attracted public attention due to its extraordinary architecture, which overall raised a lot of doubts in its operations. The typical highest speed of this car was 225km/h although some still claim that this car never raised at this speed. Now, this model is only considered for its style and designing and it kept at the Henry Ford Museum of Dearborn, and is generally seen as a queen of styling and elegance competition.

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Sir Vival (1958)

The car has a very unique yet strange separation into dual modules. That makes it different in its looks or rather we could say it makes it a strange car. Well, the idea of this was dealing with passive road accidents, helping the driver and passenger to remain safe. In the dreams to make the world’s safest car, Walter C. Jerome of Worcester a man from Massachusetts built this car. His primary concern was to safeguard the driver from a head-on collision, so he went on with splitting the car into two. He also tried to make the car’s screen visible for the driver he further went on with providing 360-degree wrap-around squeegees to wipe it clean.

El Tiburon Roadster ‘Shark’ (1962)

The shark is a masterpiece in terms of its appearance, this car resembles its name completely with a body-coloured in turquoise and dark blue colour. Designed by Henry Covington, the mechanism of the car is based on the principles of aerodynamics. Covington collaborated with fibreglass expert Glenn Gums for the exterior finishing of the body. And six coupes were made by Caccicraft of Tampa. Unfortunately, Covington passed away and the production of the shark stopped, this was the time when Glenn took the charge and modified the coupe body into a roadster adding doors and exposed headlights. In 1966 this car was also recognised as the most streamlined car in the world.

Mercer Cobrat Roadster (1965)

A Royal looking car, with beautifully crafted copper and brass elements, gives it a stunning look at a first sight. Copper detailing at the front and in the wheel is another beautiful design. The body hasn’t been worked with copper but most of the interior and exterior parts like radiator shell, exhaust guards, disc brakes are crafted by copper. The mercer is a heavily re-skinned four-speed manual Shelby Cobra, designed by Chief Virgil Exner which was penned down by him for the esquire magazine. The car was built by using not only Shelby Cobra Chassis but engine and gearbox too.

Neri & Bonacini Studio GT (1968)

Neri & Bonacini Studio GT is all about the new design. It was ideally supposed to turn like an Italian sports car, with a stylish aluminium body. Copper and brass exteriors were used back in those times in several cars and were so used in Studio GT. Initially, the idea was to use the power plant, but production was ending so several others were tested. Two cars were prepared in the first production and remarkably the second car is still in the untouched position purchased by John Mastroianni Sr. of Auto Turismo & Sports Ltd.

From the February-March 2021 issue of FHM India.