The concept car was born in 1939 with General Motors' invention of the Buick Y-job. This was not a car designed for general consumption, but one created by the styling department as an "ideas" car, a sleek, chrome-adorned sculpture contrived to inflate passions and inspire imaginations. The 1950s was the true golden age of the automobile, and America was the hub of innovative engineering, producing cars in different shapes and designing flying cars, nuclear-powered cars, and gyroscopically controlled two-wheeled cars. In the 1960s and 1970s the focus of concept car design moved to Europe, and the results were even sleeker and more sophisticated. From the Chrysler Turboflite to the Renault Raccoon, the boundaries of car design were pushed to even more outlandish styles, eventually translating into the new classic designs of today. Concept Cars is the ultimate guide to concept cars, featuring major designs houses from Ogle to Pininfarina as well as mass manufacturers. A comprehensive visual reference guide, complete with over 300 stunning color images, highlights some of the most significant and creative cars of the century, making this volume a thorough and entertaining book that will be treasured by car enthusiasts everywhere.