rare photo of Earl concept car on beach

Took picture from cool new Facebook page on Earle's work:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harley-Earl-I-Love-Automobiles/210134269031472?ref=hl

 

Seen this before. I understand they killed the project because of compe***ion for the corvette. Windshield back resembles the 53-54 corvette

 

Waddaya think that would be worth today!!!!!! Way cool.

 

There where several versions of this concept. One escaped and is kicking around north of here

 

You askin' me?

I'd say $850,000.00 to $925,000.00

 

I believe Joe Bortz has it.

 

a corvette with modified fenders.

 

Harley Earl was something else... I'd say that this car would have come out of the same thought process that he used in his concept "Le Sabre". His designs were jet engined inspired and the controls and dash board looked as if they were aeronautical, if not space aged. (Reminds me of Buck Rogers). After Earl's early 50's concepts were seen, it seems as if all american marks followed his examples and went with tail fins and the jet age theme. Cool!

 

Earl's 2 best were the LeSabre and the Y-Job.

 

Um, no it isn't.


The car is the 1954 Buick Wildcat 2 concept it has a 100" wheelbase compared to the Corvette's 102" wheelbase. They are both fibregl***.

 

Harley Earl's the MAN.. Uh, he was the MAN.....

 

Oldsmobile produced a car very similar to this one. It is now in a museum in Colorado. The owner of that one paid in excess of 3 million for it. Same story, GM killed it because it was much better than the Corvette and the top execs were afraid it would kill Corvette sales. It probably would have because it was powered by a 324 V8 and the lowly Corvette could be had with only the six. Just the start of stupid GM executive decisions.

 

New Harley Earl facebook page has all the correct photos, data and other info up right now on Wildcat I, II and III. Check it out here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harley-Earl-I-Love-Automobiles/210134269031472