1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74

1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Harley J. Earl (American, 1893-1969), designer Carl Renner (American, 1923-2001), designer General Motors Corporation, American, founded 1908, manufacturer Courtesy of General Motors Heritage Center, Warren, Michigan Harley Earl’s visionary concept cars for General Motors culminated with the Cadillac Cyclone XP-74, which was introduced at the inaugural Daytona 500 NASCAR race just as Earl retired. With its soaring bubble canopy, sweeping fenders, dramatic fins, and afterburner-style taillight housing - all jet aircraft styling cues- Earl’s last concept car reflects both his and the public’s ongoing interest in the jet age. The futuristic, visually stunning Cyclone XP-74 featured proximity-sensing radar safety units (housed in the Dagmars) that scanned the road electronically and warned the driver both audibly and visually of objects in the car’s path. The Cyclone was equipped with other fantastic gadgets, including panoramic bubble top that retracted fully when doors opened or c