- Futurliner
The GM Futurliners were a group of stylized buses designed in the 1940s by
Harley Earl for General Motors. They were used in their Parade of Progress, which traveled the US showing new cars and technology. The Futurliners were used from 1940 to 1941 and again from 1953 to 1956. A total of 12 were built, and 9 are still known to exist as of 2007.Parade of Progress
Each Futurliner displayed modern advances in science and technology such as jet engines,
stereophonic sound ,microwave oven s,television and many other modern marvels of the time.The Parade of Progress was halted by World War II. The vehicles were refurbished by GM and the Parade resumed in 1953-only to be discontinued permanently in 1956 as a victim to one of the very technologies the Futurliners had featured: television.
Besides the twelve Futurliners, the Parade of Progress included 32 support vehicles.
After the Parade
Following the Parade of Progress, the twelve Futurliners were disposed of by General Motors.
Two Futurliners were donated by GM to the
Michigan State Police . Rechristened as "Safetyliners", they were used to promote safety on the roads. [http://www.futurliner.com/mich.htm] .At least one Futurliner was purchased by
Oral Roberts and used as a portable stage during evangelical crusades of the 1960s. This vehicle may have been taken to Central or South America. [http://www.futurliner.com/oralroberts.htm]Today
Futurliner #11 sold for a record US$4,000,000 (+premium) on Jan 21, 2006 at a
Barrett-Jackson auction inArizona . As it was too large to ship, the multi-million-dollar Futurliner was simply driven to its new home in Chandler. [http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/0124auction24.html]Futurliner #10 is believed to be the most accurately restored of the Futurliners.
Of the other seven known surviving Futurliners, one is used as a motorhome and 2 in advertising. The other four are generally beyond a restorable condition.
External links
* [http://www.futurliner.com/ The GM Futurliner Restoration Project]
* [http://www.joeld.net/futurliner/futurliner.html The General Motors Futurliner: A History]
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