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In their time, General Motors made some immense rides. Yet, not all of their ideas came to fruition or saw the light of day. One design, in particular, that did not stick around for long was the 1967 Astro.
Although many people were creating cars with impressive aerodynamics, the main idea for the Astro was so that GM could understand how to improve their own personal aerodynamics. Hence, the 1967 Astro was born.
Here's everything to know about the 1967 Astro.
The Key Purpose Of The 1967 Astro
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The key purpose of the 1967 Astro model was for mechanics to study its aerodynamics. Engineers already knew that the frontal area and shape of a car were major factors in how slippery a car is in high-speed air. Much of what we take for granted in aerodynamics was new territory in the mid-'60s, which was the case for this Astro.
For its internal design, the Astro features a 176 cubic-inch engine. The engine was made of alloy aluminum with steel cylinder sleeves and featured single overhead cams, Hemi heads, Weber carburetors, and made 240-hp. That makes it boast 1.4 horsepower per cubic inch, which is pretty impressive for a model of the late '60s.
For external design, the flat was kept as low as possible. The engine was placed behind the rear wheels so that everything could sit as flat as feasible. It certainly was a short ride, with a height of under three feet. To gain access to the cockpit, the driver would use a hinged rear body/door section.
When driving around in the 1967 Astro, the driver would have to use the periscope rearview mirror on the roof provided to attain a wide-angle view of whatever was behind on the road.
Should the car experience an incident, the Astro was kit out with a bulkhead behind the driver and the forged aluminum windshield header for protection.
The Most Unusual Door Design
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The most unusual part of Astro's design was not its height but its door design. From a first glance, it is notable that there aren't any normal door lines. Instead, the entire canopy hinges up from a pivot point behind the rear wheels. Since the car was 35.5 inches tall, 12.3 inches shorter than a '68 Corvette, the seats were fixed to the canopy and actually raised up so that you could step into the interior. Hence, it wouldn't make for a great car in the rain.
In fact, very little was conventional about the Astro. When the driver managed to get inside, they would be presented with a variety of aircraft-inspired design cues, ranging from the "head-to-toe" bucket seats, the control pod to the left of the driver, and of course, the twin handgrips that replaced the conventional steering wheel.
Overall, the 1967 Astro did not see much love in the late '60s, especially seeing as it was a test car. However, it was inventive and did prove a point that lower cars can make for faster and more powerful rides. Yet, the design wasn't accessible nor convenient, so the Astro never really made its way into the mainstream automotive market.