Fun #98 - Francis Scott's Retractable Hardtop '58 Corvette

[pnegyesi]

Carnut you're only a tiny step away from getting your point - don't let anyone steal it from you

[Otto Puzzell]

Related to lights?

Sunlight 

[Otto Puzzell]

Transmission?

No

[Otto Puzzell]

Does it have an electrically retractable hardtop?

Yes!

Locked for you

[Carnut]

Carnut you're only a tiny step away from getting your point - don't let anyone steal it from you

They won't!

GM stylist Francis H. Scott, who was working in Bill Mitchell's styling department at the time, was trying to think of ways to make the Corvette a bit more user-friendly and practical.

Using a crashed '58 Corvette as a basis he came up with an extremely simple method of retracting a hardtop into the trunk without the plethora of wires and motors that others like the Ford Skyliner had used.

He actually created the whole thing in his living room at home in Warren, Michigan in 3600 hours for $2600, over a 3 year period.

In early 1962 he displayed the finished car to Bill Mitchell and Bill Lauer, to their amazement.  Mitchell walked round it once, muttered "I'll be damned" then walked off without another word.

Lauer suggested the idea be patented, which it was, and was then completely forgotten about by GM and never followed up on!

The car therefore remains totally unique.

[Otto Puzzell]

That's it - nicely done!

[Carnut]

Horrible rear-end, as usual for cars with retractable hardtops!