Pontiac Club De Mer - 1956

The Pontiac Club de Mer was a purpose-built, concept car that was unveiled at the General Motors Motorama in 1956 to celebrate GM's commitment to futuristic design. The brainchild of GM engineer-designer, Harley Earl (Paul Gillian was also involved being the Pontiac Studio head at the time), the "de Mer" was a two door sport Roadster that incorporated innovative breakthrough styling like a sleek, low-profile body encasing a large powerplant, a design trend used widely in LSR (land speed record) trials at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah during the 1950s. One Club de Mer prototype was constructed and unveiled, along with another ¼-scale model, in Miami, Florida. As per GM's "kill order", it was scrapped in 1958.



Only the model exists today, which was owned by Joseph Bortz[4] of Highland Park, IL. until it was sold to noted car collector Ron Pratt at the 2007 Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction for $75,000.



Exterior

The design of the "de Mer" drew its visual impetus from contemporary aircraft construction of its day, employing a stainless steel monocoque, individual wind screens similar to those on the 1955 Lincoln Futura (later TV's Batmobile), aerodynamically fashioned facia that flowed down from the hood skin to cover most of the grill, concealed headlights, and a single rear-deck dorsal fin. Also featured were twin "silver-streaks" that flowed into low-profile hood scoops, a carry-over from Pontiac's Bonneville Special two years prior. The overall styling of the body was a smooth, non-undulating profile, similar to an American supersonic jet fighter, with virtually no protrusions or recesses of any kind save for the out-vents on the leading edge of both doors, and the fin. The vehicle had no bumpers, a common feature on most concepts, and the door handles were quite small. On a human scale, its most alarming feature was that it had a very low profile at just under 39 in (990.6 mm).



Interior

The interior styling in the "de Mer" had a barebones functionality to it, more in keeping with its speed trial “airs” than the flashier production vehicles available in showrooms at the time. Instruments were low key, with triangularly configured gauges mounted well behind a three spoke, GT-style steering wheel, around the steering column. The speedometer was positioned on top, and a smaller gauge on either side, each enclosed in its own pod. The interior was finished in red, while passengers gained entry through conventional doors.



Design legacy

The design of the aerodynamic wind screens was carried over to the 1955 and 1956 Corvette race cars.In the years that followed, the model kit maker Revell made a 1/25 scale Club de Mer that actually came with 1950s-clad driver and passenger.



Power plant

Under the hood lay Pontiac’s brand new V-8 engine, the 287 OHV, which was unveiled the year prior. Called the Strato Streak, it was GM's most powerful engine by 1955 and ushered in Pontiac’s high-performance image with the Bonneville, Grand Prix and GTO. This high-output power plant was modified with a high-lift cam and fitted with two four-barrel carburetors to coax power up to a mighty 300 bhp (220 kW). The rear wheels were driven by a rear mounted transaxle, used later in Pontiac's new compact, the 1961 Tempest, on a DiDion Type rigid rear axle with independent suspension.

During the 1950's, General Motors produced the Motoramas which were intended to showcase the current models. But the real starsof the shows were the "Futuristic Dream Cars", styled under the direction of Harley Earl. No car defined the Motorama experience more than the 1956 Pontiac Club de Mer. But sadly, it was no more than a non-running mockup and was ordered destroyed in late 1958. Up from its ashes is this one-off totally functional re-creation based on a 1959 Pontiac. It is powered by the '59's Strato Streak 389 engine along with its Jetaway Hydro-Matic. The OEM-style chassis is built using mid-sized Pontiac suspension clips with custom boxed rails. The body's inner structure is all steel, utilizing the 1959's inner doors, jambs, cowl sections, hinges and latches, augmented with square tubing. This has formed the basis for the one-off's authentically sculpted fiberglass outer body, replicating the design by Pontiac's Paul Gillian, giving the car that familiar General Motors solid feel. It features many unique details crafted just for this car including bumpers, lights, and interior components. Other features are the glass smooth Cerulean Blue paint, mimicking the original's metallic surface by Finish Masters expert Richard James, along with vermilion vat-dyed leather-covered custom-built bucket seats and the chrome finish on the one-off trim parts by Razor-Tec. This recently constructed creation is built by Marty Martino. It is the result of 3 intense years of work fueled by a passion for futuristic dream cars coupled with an art background and 40+ years of automotive sculpting and custom car building.

Excellent ! Merci

:super:  :

Je ne connaisais ce concept -car qu'à travers la maquette Revell ( pas un modèle du genre à ce ki se dit ...)

Mais cette photo traduit tout l'esprit d'époque .......... Madame prend le spyder pour une virée de Malibu à L.A......................................j'adore !