GMC..... Concept van.....

This is the first I've ever seen of this cool concept van! It looks like a '55 Nomad trying to be a van! And I agree with what some say, that this is an early mini-van. I found this info about it:

Though Chrysler executive Lee Iacocca and his designers generally are credited with inventing the minivan in the early 1980s, Earl came up with a remarkably similar concept a quarter-century before them. The L’Universelle, a front-wheel-drive car/truck hybrid with the driver’s compartment in front of the engine, was nearly a foot lower than conventional panel trucks, yet had as much space inside as much larger vehicles.

Makes you wonder what happened to these old expermintal/protypes.
I know that there was one GM had,I believe, The Futureliner.I read on a bus site there is one being restored.It was like a two story overgrown bus. Wild looking creature.
I guess the most recognizable prototype of my/our generation was the Dodge Deora.Also one of my most favorite Hot Wheels(the real ones).
http://www.carstyling.ru/cars.1967_Dodge_Deora.html



Thought I'd post this one.Some of the younger folks might have never seen it before.

Love to have that concept van, that thing is really cool.

The Deora was really cool too, heres a link to a guy that built one for himself.
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?s=caf157b5970a77e1c0624b2f6297da9d&journalid=30254&action=view

i would love to take a spin in either of them!!!!

That Deora is very cool too. I remember the Hot Wheels version, of course. I give that guy credit for making his own. I'd love to try making something big and custom like that.

I must say, those vents on the side look a lot like repurposed Mustang tail lights!

The Deora is still around. It was restored back to original about 3-4 years ago. The owner lives in NJ.

I wrote to GM about the L'Universelle and they sent me a letter about it. Don't know what I did with the letter.

What did GM say about it?

They give you more info on the design, the history, or what?

yeah..it was as bit of history as to why it was created, etc etc. If I remember right, they even explained why it wasn't put into production.

Dammit...I wish I could find that letter!!!