[Steverino]

Sold for $4.1 million

 

[Steverino]

Here's another video story about the vehicle's origins

 

[Mister Dave]

Cool stuff. I watched Dave Kindig restore one over a span of a few episodes. Them things are monsters!

 

[MinnVolt]

I faintly remember seeing these vehicles when the GM Futurama came to our area when I was a kid.

I also seem to remember a travelling show by Sinclair Oil - with large dinosaurs as the highlight. Statues, not real ones - - - I'm getting old, but not that old!

 

[Raymondjram]

I faintly remember seeing these vehicles when the GM Futurama came to our area when I was a kid.

I also seem to remember a travelling show by Sinclair Oil - with large dinosaurs as the highlight. Statues, not real ones - - - I'm getting old, but not that old!

I also remember the Sinclair dinosaurs. They also appeared at the 1964-65 World's Fair in Flushing, NY. But the Walt Disney dinosaurs were better because they used Animatronics and moved!

 

[Steverino]

It looks like all that huge volume behind the driver's cabin was for displaying GM engines. Basically a mobile trade show display. But what a beast.

Any one notice the Tesla semi similarity with the curved windshield and central seat? Perhaps another idea Tesla borrowed from GM like the skateboard design?

 

[Mister Dave]

Did GM patent it? I thought Nikola held that patent.

 

[MinnVolt]

I faintly remember seeing these vehicles when the GM Futurama came to our area when I was a kid.

I also seem to remember a travelling show by Sinclair Oil - with large dinosaurs as the highlight. Statues, not real ones - - - I'm getting old, but not that old!

Well - I did say the memory was fuzzy.

The Futurliners were used in the GM Parade of Progress travelling exhibits. That's what I remembered seeing.
The GM Futurama was the GM exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair

Each of the vehicles had a display featuring different aspects of progress.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Futurliner

 

[El Dobro]

I also remember the Sinclair dinosaurs. They also appeared at the 1964-65 World's Fair in Flushing, NY. But the Walt Disney dinosaurs were better because they used Animatronics and moved!

I was there and Dinoland also had the molding machines where you put 50 cents in and it would mold you a dinosaur.

 

[Steverino]

Did GM patent it? I thought Nikola held that patent.

Not sure on a GM patent. See https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabu...d-chassis-dr-chris-borroni-bird/#5d685ebe7b30

Can't find anything about Nikola Tesla getting a patent on an automotive skateboard design like the GM Autonomy.

 

[Mister Dave]

Not sure on a GM patent. See https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabu...d-chassis-dr-chris-borroni-bird/#5d685ebe7b30

Can't find anything about Nikola Tesla getting a patent on an automotive skateboard design like the GM Autonomy.

I was referring to the wraparound windshield.

Nikola is alleging that Tesla’s cab design infringes on three of its patents – one covering the shape of the bullet-nosed fuselage, one for the wraparound windshield and one for the placement and design of the “mid entry door” that’s placed in the middle of the cab rather than at the rear as in most of today’ semis.