 |
Abarth 2000 Pininfarina The 1969 Abarth 2000 Pininfarina |
 |
Holden Hurricane The 1969 Holden Hurricane research vehicle. |
 |
Alfa Romeo CaraboThe 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo, designed by Gandini. |
|
Iso Rivolta Varedo The 1972 Iso Rivolta Varedo by Ercole Spada. |
 |
Alfa Romeo Iguana The 1969 Alfa Romeo Iguana prototype. |
 |
Lamborghini Bravo The Bertone designed Lamborghini Bravo, concept car. |
 |
Alfa Romeo 33-2 Pininfarina The 1969 Alfa Romeo 33-2 concept car by Pininfarina. |
 |
Lamborghini Countach The Lamborghini Countach prototype and LP400. |
 |
Alfa Pininfarina P33 Roadster The 1968 Alfa Romeo Pininfarina P33 Roadser. |
 |
Lamborghini Marzal The 1967 Lamborghini Marzal saloon car. |
 |
Alfasud Caimano The 1971 Concept car designed by Giugiaro. |
 |
Lamborghini Miura SV The 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV Supercar. |
 |
AMX-II The AMC AMX-2 prototype from 1969. |
 |
Lancia StratosThe 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero concept car. |
 |
AMX-III The AMC AMX-3 prototype from 1970. |
 |
Lombardi FL1 The 1972 FL1 designed by Francise Lombardi. |
 |
Audi 100S Mittelmotor The Frua designed Audi concept car. |
 |
Lotus Esprit M70The 1972 M70 Lotus Esprit concept car.
|
 |
Autobianchi Runabout The Autobianchi Runabout prototype, from 1969. |
 |
Lotus Etna The 1984 Lotus Etna concept car, design by Giugiaro. |
 |
Bizzarrini Manta The Ital designed 1968 Bizzarrini Manta. |
 |
Maserati BoomerangThe 1972 Maserati Boomerang supercar. |
 |
BMW Turbo The 1972 E25 BMW Turbo. |
 |
Maserati Bora The 1971 Maserati Bora production supercar. |
 |
Chevrolet XP-882 The Chevrolet XP-882 from 1970. |
 |
Mazda RX 500 The Mazda RX500 supercar, from Toyo Kogyo. |
 |
Citroen SM Frua The Frua designed concept car from 1972. |
 |
MG EX-E The 1985 MG EX-E concept car |
 |
De Tomaso Pantera The mid-engined production supercar |
 |
Mercedes C111 The 1970 Mercedes C111 supercar and research vehicle. |
 |
De Tomaso Mangusta The 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta production car. |
 |
Monteverdi Hai The Monteverdi Hai 450SS supercar, by Fissore. |
 |
De Tomaso Zonda The 1971 De Tomaso Zonda by Ghia. |
 |
Oldsmobile Thor The Oldsmobile Thor designed by Ghia from 1967. |
 |
Ferrari Modulo The 1970 Ferrari Modulo concept car. |
 |
Opel CD The 1969 Opel CD Prototype. |
 |
Ferrari 512S Pininfarina The Ferrari 512S concept car from 1969. |
 |
Opel Geneve The Opel Geneve styling exercise. |
 |
Ferrari P5 Pininfarina The 1968 Ferrari P5 by Pininfarina. |
 |
Porsche Tapiro The Porsche Tapiro, from Ital Design. |
 |
Ferrari P6 Pininfarina The Ferrari P6 Pininfarina from 1968. |
 |
Renault Alpine A310 The 1971 Alpine A310 production car. |
 |
Ferrari Studio CR 25 The 1974 Ferrari CR25 by Pininfarina. |
 |
Serenissima Ghia The 1969 Ghia concept car. |
 |
Ford GT70 The Ford GT70 Sports Prototype, designed by Ghia. |
 |
Toyota EX-3 The 1969 Toyota EX-III concept car. |
 |
Ford Mach 2 The 1970 Ford Mach II designed by Larry Shinoda. |
 |
Vauxhall SRV The 1970 Vauxhall SRV development car. |
 |
Ford Maya The 1984 Ford Maya Supercar |
Supercars and Concept cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The late 1960s was an exciting time for car design, with car manufacturers developing supercars and concept cars that utilised the new mid-engine car layout. The mid-mounted engine had been developed in the late 1950's and early 1960's, through design developments in Formula 1, by the racing team Cooper. Many car manufacturers were aware of the handling advantages the new layout had over front engine sports cars and consequently wanted to utilise this new technology.
There were further developments in car aerodynamics too. By the mid 1960's, smoother, flatter profiles in car design were found to reduce drag, allowing cars to cut through the air more efficiently and travel faster. The mid-engine layout did away with the need for cars to have long bonnets. By integrating the angle of a shorter bonnet with the windscreen (forming a wedge shape), aerodynamic improvements were made. In the late 1960s, Designers such as Giorgetto Giugiaro and Marcello Gandini were instrumental in this development, designing such legendary supercar concepts as the Bizzarinni Manta and Alfa Romeo Carabo.
Alfa Romeo Carabo 1968 - Click to enlarge
With both the new mid-engine layout and the aerodynamic improvements, sports cars took on a new futuristic form, showing people a glimpse into the future. Cars such as the Lancia Stratos Concept car exemplified this forward thinking and paved the way for supercars as we know them today. The oil crisis and economic down turn of the mid 1970s put a halt to the development of supercars. Only in the mid 1980's would we see a resurgence of interest, with supercar concepts like the Ford Maya and Lotus Etna. By the late 1980s, supercars were again being developed and produced, such as the Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJ220 and Mclaren F1.
Lancia Stratos Zero 1970
Todays supercars feature the same mid engine layout and wedge shaped designs, evident in cars such as the Lamborghini Gallardo and Murcielago. Above are some examples of supercar concepts from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
