It wasn’t long after the invention of “styling” for cars in the early
20th century that designers and engineers began building what-if
versions, rolling canvases of ideas that range from the realistic to the
fanciful. The High Museum of Art Atlanta has collected a bevy of pure
concept cars from the past 80 years for its “Dream Cars” exhibition,
offering a vision of the future that’s forever in progress.

Ferrari (Pininfarina) 512 S Modulo

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970, the Modulo was the extreme example of the era’s obsession with aerodynamic wedges. The Modulo seated two in a single-file row, and was only 37 inches tall.

General Motors Le Sabre XP-8

In many ways the Le Sabre XP-8 became the embodiment of the Harley Earl era at General Motors following World War II — daring, fast and technologically advanced. The “dagmars” on the bumper would show up in the great Tri-Five Chevys.

Norman Timbs Special

While it was billed simply as a home-built roadster when it graced the cover of Motor Trend in 1949, Norman Timbs’ creation has since been heralded as one of the great custom vehicles of the age, which cost him $10,000 to construct.