The sixties heralded a new era for car design. Beyond were the remains of the era of the industrial revolution. Designers started thinking in a different way. Suddenly, quickly inside. Cars that looked quickly even while they stood still, quickly caught the eye of the audience. The idea was simple: make cars with a distinctive “wedge design” so that they looked like they literally cut through the air. We all know, the higher the speed, the more a problem becomes the air. On speed, air pressure can cause all kinds of problems for fast cars, so that designers wanted to “lead” faster cars to cut their way better.
Giorgetto Giugiaro and Marcello Gandini were the two most influential designers of that time. They were responsible for the Wig Rage. It was their idea of a jump in the future of the car, one that challenged the norm by setting a new status quo. If you wanted to be part of the future, De Wig was the best choice. It was the promise of a technically driven era in which cars could be more than just basic modes of transport styled after their content. Decorated not by ornaments, but rather a characteristic shape, a shape that transcends outside and interior.
With wig cars, the seating positions, interior controls and the way people deal with the machine itself changed. This was the point where we went from operational motor vehicles to the management of spaceships on the road. The following examples of cars from the Wedge era can all be found at the exhibition “Wedge Revolution: Cars on the Cuted Edge” in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information, the data used to collect this article from different manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including a tour of the Petersen Automotive Museum Exhibition on the Wedge Era. All images were recorded using the Z6iii -Spiegeloos camera from Nikon.
Lamborghini Countach
Starting with strong, we designed the Lamborghini Countach, designed by Marcello Gandini itself. The Countach was one of the first wig cars and the one who put the shape on the map. It is the car that made the world enthusiastic about a daring new car era. It is perhaps the most iconic of the wedge -shaped era, and certainly the one who gave the era a real traction. As one of the few wig cars that actually reached production and, as cultural success, gave the futuristic form a promising future. It also gave Lamborghini credibility, and it is a form that influences their cars today.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1974–1990 |
Produced units | 1,983 |
Unique functions | “Periscopo” window image |
Displacement | 3.9-liter V-12 |
Current | 375 hp |
Lancia Stratos HF Zero Concept
Designed by Bertone, the Lancia Stratos Zero concept broke in 1970 at the Turin Auto Show. Like many others of that time, the design was led by the famous designer Marcello Gandini. It used the chassis of a Lancia rally car and was founded to explore the future of aerodynamic design. There are no doors on the Stratos Zero concept, but rather a pre -shelter and retractable steering wheel, so that residents can come from the front of the car. The car is powered by a 1.6-liter Lancia V-4 engine that makes 113 hp. The Lancia Stratos production would not appear for another three years.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1970 Concept |
Produced units | 1 |
Unique functions | No traditional doors |
Displacement | 1.6-liter V-4 |
Current | 115 hp |
Gold Delorean DMC-12 by American Express
Where we go, we don’t need any roads. Well, time machines aside, the DeLorean DMC12 has never been more brave. Made by American Express as marketing tactics, specially built DMC12s were gilded on top of the already controversial stainless steel base Delorean. The original plan was to sell a maximum of 100 examples, but only two have ever achieved customers. The car was part of a special promotion from American Express aimed at its most prosperous customers. The prices were set in the 1980s at $ 85,000, which would be around $ 330,000 in the current economy. Oh, how great would it be to jump back to the 1980s and to make various decisions.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1980 |
Produced units | 3 |
Unique functions | Gilded stainless steel exterior |
Displacement | 2.9-liter V-6 |
Current | 130 hp |
Honda Civic “Dame”
Designed by Sergio Coggiola, the Honda Civic “Lady” was actually a vehicle commissioned from 1976. Based on a normal Honda Civic from 1975, the lady was intended to lean in the Wig era. The one -off Civic was intended to be delivered to the Swiss importer Claude Sage. It never went into production, but debuted in the iconic Motor Show of Geneva. The sandwich civic used a standard Civic PowerTrain and transmission, a 1.2-liter inline-four cylinder and a manual four-speed gearbox.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1976 |
Produced units | 1 |
Unique functions | Unique by order of social bodywork |
Displacement | 1.2-liter Inline-four |
Current | 50 HP |
Chevrolet Aerovette
So you thought the C8 was the very first Mid-Motor Chevrolet Corvette? Not the case. Not even nearby. Chevrolet has been teasing Corvettes for decades with the layout of the mid-engine. After all, it was the original vision behind Corvette’s best lawyer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Aerovette was originally built with a rotating engine, but last-minute changes gave the production intent version an all-American 6.6-liter V-8.
The production variant is said to have used a 5.7-liter V-8. The car was shown in 1970 as a concept, but was not approved for production until 1979. By that time, new management within GM decided that a more traditional front engine, rear-wheel drive was the economic move, and in the end the Aerovette program was demolished.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1970 Concept |
Produced units | 3 |
Unique functions | Mid-Motor Lay-Out was unique for Corvette |
Displacement | 6.6-liter V-8 |
Current | ~ 430 hp |
Aston Martin Bulldog
Aston Martin was built as a one-off concept in 1979 and had a bit of late access to the wedge era. It was designed by William Towns and was intended for a limited production run. Bulldog was powered by a Twin-Turboarged V-8. The goal was 200 miles per hour and up to 700 hp. During testing, the team reached an honorable 192 miles per hour, no small achievement for a single concept car. In the end, the project was considered too expensive to reach a complete production run from such an ambitious vehicle.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1979 |
Produced units | 1 |
Unique functions | Has reached 192 km / h in tests |
Displacement | 5.3-Liter Twin-Turbo Charged V-8 |
Current | 650 hp |
Maserati Khamsin
The Maserati Khamsin made his debut at the end of 1972 and was another example of Wig -Design from the Bertone design agency. Led by Marcello Gandini, the Khamsin was the first project that Bertone worked on with Maserati. The brand already had a GT car, but wanted to provide something with a wedge design. The Khamsin was sold next to the Kyalami, but offered a much slimmer and distinctive wigfront fascia. Made for those who demanded a former motor, rear-wheel drive, the Khamsin was a comprehensive car for Maserati, who put the brand on the map during the Wedge era, but continued to build on their core customers.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1974–1982 |
Produced units | 435 |
Unique functions | Full glasses back panel |
Displacement | 4.9-liter V-8 |
Current | 320 hp |
AMC -Friend
AMC’s Amitron was the product of the mid -1960s, after various accounts had been adopted to push EVs and the development of the technology needed to make viable transport solutions. The Amitron was created in a time of preservation, but also with the influence of the Italian Wigflair. To make the Amitron, AMC collaborated with Gulton Industries to develop battery technology and associated electronic components. Two versions of the lithium-Nickel-Flouride battery of the car were developed and it even contained a version of regenerative brakes. It would have a range of 150 miles and travel with a maximum of 50 miles per hour before that time, respectable numbers.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1967 |
Produced units | 1 |
Unique functions | A few awnings |
Current | 22.5 kWh |
Chevrolet Cannara
It is hard to believe, but the Cannara is based on a Chevrolet Impala Station car from 1958. Designed and built by Ray Cannara, the car was an example of the influence that the Wigrevolution had, even entirely in California. Cannara, who went to the ArtCenter College of Design, created its own wig car with the help of the components of existing Chevrolet products, including the 283 cubic inch Impala engine of that time. Ray Cannara was influenced by designs that came from the Italian Design Powerhouses in the 1960s and decided to test his newly acquired skills. The concept of Chevrolet Cannara emphasizes the ambitious nature of the Wedge era on a global scale.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1966 |
Produced units | 1 |
Unique functions | Impala chassis, open boat-cover-like driving experience |
Displacement | 4.6-liter V-8 |
Current | 185 hp |
Lancia Stratos
It is just one of the most coveted rally cars that ever exist, the legendary Lancia Stratos, lives on as an important highlight in the Wedge era. Designed by Bertone and powered by a Ferrari Dino V-6 engine, the Stratos was the very first specially built vehicle specifically for the World Rally Championship. It won three years in a row, thanks to the racing -oriented design. Stratos was able to secure several championships in other racing series, which also proved the winning recipe. Lancia turned to Bertone, in particular Gandini, to design the Stratos, after an important history of designing vehicles with Pininfarina.
Limited production specifications
Production years | 1973–1978 |
Produced units | 492 |
Unique functions | Super-short wheelbase |
Displacement | 2.4-liter V-6 |
Current | 190 hp |
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