Baby You Can Drive My Car

July 3, 2008 8:15 AM

What happens to concept cars unveiled in Auto Shows?

Are they street legal? Are they even drivable - or for display only? If they are for display only - then what is the bare-minimum set of car features, that allows a car to be shown at a show? On the other hand, if the cars are street legal, are they ever made available for sale, and how can ordinary mortals not connected to the auto industry purchase such a car?

posted by seawallrunner to sports, hobbies, & recreation (7 comments total)

It's a disparate grouping. Some are little more than mockups with tires that have to be pushed around, some are drivable but not particularly road worthy, others are very refined and prototypes for production lines. Some of the road worthy ones make it into Sci-Fi movies. I don't think ordinary mortals can purchase such cars without access to inordinate amounts of cash.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:22 AM on July 3

Here's one story you might find interesting, the original TV Batmobile was originally a Lincoln concept car called the Futura
posted by pupdog at 8:24 AM on July 3

And I hit enter way too soon - from what I've read in car magazines and such, a lot of concepts you see on platforms at car shows, like Burhanistan said, are nothing more than shells. After the show circuit, they might get destroyed, they might get stripped down and components reused in other concepts, and sometimes they get resold to FX guys. In this modern age, I don't think many of them ever leave the factory family.
posted by pupdog at 8:27 AM on July 3

As an example: I recall the Cadillac Voyage, among others was in the movie Demolition Man.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:03 AM on July 3

Sorry, second link should go here.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:21 AM on July 3

You can't buy a concept car. They are one of the few things in the world that really are not for sale.

A friend at McLaren told me Warren Buffett wanted the F1 when it was still a concept car. They said no.
posted by Zambrano at 9:31 AM on July 3

Although occasionally car makers or design studios have a clear out. In 2002 Ford sold around 50 cars through a Christie's auction. Some were drivable, others just mobile sculpture. Occasionally concepts are crushed, but most manufacturers keep a close eye on their heritage these days, so the company museum (self link) is the usual final resting spot.
posted by jonathanbell at 3:13 PM on July 3