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Dream Drive

The 10 best concept cars that never made it to production

Concept cars have been around for decades – but most are never produced beyond their prototype. Here’s a selection we wish had made it onto the road…
6.00pm, 6 Nov 2011
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CONCEPT CARS are part of the automotive industry, and have been for the last 50 years. We love them, but the problem is a lot of them never make it into production.

Car manufacturers often like to just give us teasers of up and coming ‘design influences’, as opposed to actually building the damn sexy car they’ve just mocked up.

It is an annoying notion, so with that being said, here are the ten best looking concepts that were never given the go-ahead:

The 10 best concept cars that never made it to production
1 / 10

  • 1 - 21st century BMW M1

    This M1 was designed to mark the 30th anniversary of BMW's original M1. It was premiered in 2008, but unfortunately the Bavarian car manufacturer didn't go any further and actually produce it. *Sigh* (Image: BMW-USA)

  • 2 - Chevrolet Corvette Four-Rotor

    This 1970s concept car was designed to compete with Mercedes-Benz and Mazda, who each had their own 4-rotor experiments on the go. (Image: Heritage Center, GM)

  • 3 - Maserati Birdcage

    The Birdcage was created in collaboration with Motorola in 2005 to celebrate the "dream car era". (Image: Maserati)

  • 4 - Mercedes C111

    You wouldn't want to have been holding your breath for this one: the prototype C111 was first displayed at a motor show in 1969. (Image: Lotus Esprit Turbo)

  • 5 - TVR Cerbera Speed 12

    The story goes that TVR's then-owner Peter Wheeler took this one for a spin, decided it was not suitable for road use and, well, that was the end of that. (Image: Wikipedia)

  • 6- Saab Aero X

    The Aero X was "born from jets", according to Saab, which may explain the delay in actually producing them for the road. (Image: Wikipedia)

  • 7 - Jeep Hurricane

    The Jeep Hurricane - surely every surfer's dream vehicle? (Image: Wikipedia)

  • 8 - Citroen GT

    Citroen still claims a few of these bad boys will be made - but we’ve yet to see it... (Image: Wikipedia)

  • 9 - Mercedes F400

    Ladies and gentlemen - it's the weird, wonderful and somewhat confused-looking Mercedes F400. Apparently the outer sheels can tilt inwards allowing the car to lean into a corner (like skiers). (Image: Wikipedia)

  • 10 - Jaguar F-Type

    It's the dream car Jaguar never made - the Jaguar F-Type, rumoured (in vain) to replace the E-Type. (Image: Road and Track)
  • This M1 was designed to mark the 30th anniversary of BMW's original M1. It was premiered in 2008, but unfortunately the Bavarian car manufacturer didn't go any further and actually produce it. *Sigh* (Image: BMW-USA)
  • This 1970s concept car was designed to compete with Mercedes-Benz and Mazda, who each had their own 4-rotor experiments on the go. (Image: Heritage Center, GM)
  • The Birdcage was created in collaboration with Motorola in 2005 to celebrate the
  • You wouldn't want to have been holding your breath for this one: the prototype C111 was first displayed at a motor show in 1969. (Image: Lotus Esprit Turbo)
  • The story goes that TVR's then-owner Peter Wheeler took this one for a spin, decided it was not suitable for road use and, well, that was the end of that. (Image: Wikipedia)
  • The Aero X was
  • The Jeep Hurricane - surely every surfer's dream vehicle? (Image: Wikipedia)
  • Citroen still claims a few of these bad boys will be made - but we’ve yet to see it... (Image: Wikipedia)
  • Ladies and gentlemen - it's the weird, wonderful and somewhat confused-looking Mercedes F400. Apparently the outer sheels can tilt inwards allowing the car to lean into a corner (like skiers). (Image: Wikipedia)
  • It's the dream car Jaguar never made - the Jaguar F-Type, rumoured (in vain) to replace the E-Type. (Image: Road and Track)

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