The 1995 Chrysler Atlantic Concept Car
by Pete Hagenbuch
Legend has it that, in 1994, one-time Chrysler design chief Tom Gale and then Chrysler president Bob Lutz served together as judges for the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance.
There were a
number of concept cars, old and new, not included in the judging. Gale and Lutz decided that next year, Chrysler was going to have a concept car that
would put all the other concepts "back on their
trailers."
The legend says that Lutz sketched his ideas on a
napkin, which he gave to Gale. Gale gave his design staff the
assignment - but without the sketches, explaining that he
didn't want to give his designers any preconceptions which
would stifle their creativity. They were told to use ideas and features
of the curvaceous French coupes of the thirties (Delahaye, Bugatti,
Talbot-Lago, and Delage) to come up with a knock-out design that would mix the best of the old with the newest of the new.
The result, designed by Bob Hubbach, is the 1995 Chrysler Atlantic.
The car was claimed to be two hundred inches long, 76 inches wide, and nearly 52 inches tall; riding on a 126 inch wheelbase, it used 21" wheels in
front and 22" in the back (either the length or the wheelbase is likely incorrect). Power was provided by a 4.0 liter
straight eight, built from two Neon engine blocks, arranged nose-to-tail.
Its features were pure 1995: four-wheel disc brakes
with ABS, automatic transmission with Auto-Stick, and neon brake and interior lights.
The Atlantic was a part of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum collection, and was sometimes put onto the show and museum circuit.
Ettore Bugatti and the Type 57
One of the influences on the Atlantic was Ettore Bugatti. In his French factory, he built boats and aircraft engines and at least one
airplane, but his first love was automobiles. He is generally
considered an artist, more so than an engineer, which may explain why some of his designs were "a bit
wacky" while others were inspired.
Ettore Bugatti produced two
outstanding Grand Prix cars, his Types 35 and 59. His engines were
works of art, as were a number of his cars. One of his last designs is
considered by many to be his best, the Type 57 sports and sports racing
car.
The Type 57 sported a 3.3 liter straight-eight engine with
double overhead camshafts and hemispherical combustion chambers, with a 90° angle between intake and exhaust valves. The block and head were cast integrally, and bolted to a cast aluminum
crankcase/transmission housing; the Type 57S was equipped with a
Rootes-type supercharger. With a streamlined body christened "the
Tank" by the motoring press, it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in
1937 and again in 1939.
The Type 57 was the most popular Bugatti, with an estimated 750 made; there were a variety of body styles, and the chassis was
available to independent coach builders. One of the weirdest was
an open sports body with fully skirted, steering front fenders. The
one most commonly associated with the Type 57 is the Atlantique coupe.
Its most noticeable feature is the
large spot welding seam which runs from the windshield header to
the tailend of the body.
The photos of the blue
Atlantique posed with the Chrysler Atlantic are models, the
Bugatti a rather poor one in 1/24 scale from Burago of Italy. Though
lacking in fit and finish (the right hand door won't stay
closed), it is more or less accurate in its basic shape.
The
Chrysler is a 1/18 scale by Guiloy of Spain, considerably better in
quality. I tweaked the smaller model so a comparison could be
made. If you're interested in obtaining the Guiloy model, the scale18.com* site had one left in
stock for $69.95 [as of 2016 there were four models, none available]. As for the Bugatti model, I've
never seen it in stores. I bought mine by mail order sometime in the
late 1980s.
*Scale18 is the website of Kevin's Hobbies of Anmore, British Columbia,
Canada.
Chrysler Atlantic and Bugatti Atlantique Bibliography
Model Reviews by Pete Hagenbuch:
Pete Hagenbuch, not content with designing the engines and fuel systems used in the actual cars, or in being a well-known slot car performance pioneer, has written reviews of numerous models:
Pete Hagenbuch, Mopar engineer Pete Hagenbuch Interview Models and promos Model forum
Concept cars are often made so a car's feel can be evaluated, problems can be foreseen, and reactions of the public can be judged. Some concepts test specific ideas, colors, controls, or materials - either subtle or out of proportion, to hide what's being tested. Some are created to help designers think "out of the box." The Challenger, Prowler, PT Cruiser, and Viper were all tested as production-based concepts dressed up to hide the production intent.
Concept cars • popular: http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/firepower.htmlFirepower • Tomahawk • ME412 • Mighty FC • Gladiator
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by Pete Hagenbuch
Legend has it that, in 1994, one-time Chrysler design chief Tom Gale and then Chrysler president Bob Lutz served together as judges for the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance.
There were a
number of concept cars, old and new, not included in the judging. Gale and Lutz decided that next year, Chrysler was going to have a concept car that
would put all the other concepts "back on their
trailers."
The legend says that Lutz sketched his ideas on a
napkin, which he gave to Gale. Gale gave his design staff the
assignment - but without the sketches, explaining that he
didn't want to give his designers any preconceptions which
would stifle their creativity. They were told to use ideas and features
of the curvaceous French coupes of the thirties (Delahaye, Bugatti,
Talbot-Lago, and Delage) to come up with a knock-out design that would mix the best of the old with the newest of the new.
The result, designed by Bob Hubbach, is the 1995 Chrysler Atlantic.
The car was claimed to be two hundred inches long, 76 inches wide, and nearly 52 inches tall; riding on a 126 inch wheelbase, it used 21" wheels in
front and 22" in the back (either the length or the wheelbase is likely incorrect). Power was provided by a 4.0 liter
straight eight, built from two Neon engine blocks, arranged nose-to-tail.
Its features were pure 1995: four-wheel disc brakes
with ABS, automatic transmission with Auto-Stick, and neon brake and interior lights.
The Atlantic was a part of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum collection, and was sometimes put onto the show and museum circuit.
Ettore Bugatti and the Type 57
One of the influences on the Atlantic was Ettore Bugatti. In his French factory, he built boats and aircraft engines and at least one
airplane, but his first love was automobiles. He is generally
considered an artist, more so than an engineer, which may explain why some of his designs were "a bit
wacky" while others were inspired.
Ettore Bugatti produced two
outstanding Grand Prix cars, his Types 35 and 59. His engines were
works of art, as were a number of his cars. One of his last designs is
considered by many to be his best, the Type 57 sports and sports racing
car.
The Type 57 sported a 3.3 liter straight-eight engine with
double overhead camshafts and hemispherical combustion chambers, with a 90° angle between intake and exhaust valves. The block and head were cast integrally, and bolted to a cast aluminum
crankcase/transmission housing; the Type 57S was equipped with a
Rootes-type supercharger. With a streamlined body christened "the
Tank" by the motoring press, it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in
1937 and again in 1939.
The Type 57 was the most popular Bugatti, with an estimated 750 made; there were a variety of body styles, and the chassis was
available to independent coach builders. One of the weirdest was
an open sports body with fully skirted, steering front fenders. The
one most commonly associated with the Type 57 is the Atlantique coupe.
Its most noticeable feature is the
large spot welding seam which runs from the windshield header to
the tailend of the body.
The photos of the blue
Atlantique posed with the Chrysler Atlantic are models, the
Bugatti a rather poor one in 1/24 scale from Burago of Italy. Though
lacking in fit and finish (the right hand door won't stay
closed), it is more or less accurate in its basic shape.
The
Chrysler is a 1/18 scale by Guiloy of Spain, considerably better in
quality. I tweaked the smaller model so a comparison could be
made. If you're interested in obtaining the Guiloy model, the scale18.com* site had one left in
stock for $69.95 [as of 2016 there were four models, none available]. As for the Bugatti model, I've
never seen it in stores. I bought mine by mail order sometime in the
late 1980s.
*Scale18 is the website of Kevin's Hobbies of Anmore, British Columbia,
Canada.
Chrysler Atlantic and Bugatti Atlantique Bibliography
- Bugatti by H.G. Conway - Whitefriars Press Ltd. - 1963
- Modern Chrysler Concept Cars - by Matt DeLorenzo - MBI Publishing Co. - 2000 - read Allpar's review!
- Bugatti by Laurence Meredith - Sutton Publishing - 2001
- http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk
Model Reviews by Pete Hagenbuch:
Pete Hagenbuch, not content with designing the engines and fuel systems used in the actual cars, or in being a well-known slot car performance pioneer, has written reviews of numerous models:
Mattel's Dodge Charger - $30 replica of the classic car |
|
1957 Chrysler 300Chttp://www.allpar.com/toys/town-and-country.html |
|
1956 Chrysler 300B |
|
- 1955 Imperials
- 1948 Chrysler Town & Country
- Chrysler Atlantic, Bugatti Type 57 Atlantique
- Plymouth Superbird
- Plymouth Fury and Belvedere
Pete Hagenbuch, Mopar engineer Pete Hagenbuch Interview Models and promos Model forum
Concept cars • popular: http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/firepower.htmlFirepower • Tomahawk • ME412 • Mighty FC • Gladiator
Home •
Engines •
Reviews •
Chrysler 1904-2018 •
Upcoming •
Trucks •
Cars
Spread the word via <!--Tweet or--> Facebook!
We make no guarantees regarding validity or accuracy of information, predictions, or advice - .
Copyright © VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, and Mopar are trademarks of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.