"There were only 12 Futurliners built between 1939 and 1940, and of those 12 only nine have been found. Two of the finds are beyond restoration but will live on as parts for other restorations. The GM Futurliners are custom built vehicles that were styled by Harley Earl in the 1940s; they were also a very important part of the Parade of Progress."
What a pretty vehicle, but I'm confused. What was it used for? A bus? Where are the windows? Think I got it now. Some kind of traveling science displays.
Parade of Progress "Originally manufactured for the 1939 New York World's Fair, the Futurliners were later featured in GM's Parade of Progress, a promotional caravan travelling a 150-stop route across the United States and Canada. The Futurliners, along with 32 support vehicles, were driven by 50 college graduates, who also staffed the exhibitions along the route." "Typically arranged at each stop around a large tent and an information kiosk, each Futurliner featured a self-contained stage as well as a prominent deployable light tower, and each vehicle featured a particular subject. " "The mobile exhibition covered such topics as jet engine technology, agriculture, traffic engineering,[4] stereophonic sound, microwave ovens, television and other innovations. " "In 1955 a miniature automobile assembly line display named A Car Is Born was constructed for one of the Futurliners.[6] A display titled Our American Crossroads was also used in 1955.[7] This display was narrated by Parker Fennelly and featured a complicated animated diorama that transformed to show progress in road and infrastructure improvements from 1902 to 1953." "Interrupted by World War II, the vehicles were refurbished by GM and the Parade of Progress resumed in 1953. The reborn parade was discontinued in 1956 for the last time, displaced by increasing popularity of network television—one of the very technologies the Futurliners themselves had once promoted."
“Most original unrestored” Futurliner goes under the knife for full restoration (2013) No. #3 Fully restored (2016)
I watched a show where they restored one of them. Things must have been gutless wonders, flathead six was all they had. I was not impressed with the restoration on the show,for one reason. They used copper brake lines. I almost screamed at the TV. No way would it be road legal with copper lines.Copper has never been DOT approved. Vibration makes copper work brittle and the it snaps.
1939 GM Futurliner & Vicious Mustang Go To Supercar Sunday Futurliner No. 5 resurrected as a car hauler, comes up for sale
The Futurliner was designed by Harley Earl, who was also the "Father of the Corvette"! "Harley Earl is the father of the Corvette. The Corvette was his idea pure and simple. He was influenced after World War II watching Jaguars and MG’s run road-racing courses like Watkins Glen. He felt America needed its own sports car and he convinced GM to develop its own, inexpensive two-seater."