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Unveiled in 1939, the Pontiac Ghost Car was the first completely
transparent car made in America, and eight decades later, photos of it
are still a wonder to behold.
Designed to showcase everything that goes into making an automobile in a
time when the automotive industry was thriving, the Pontiac Ghost Car
was built by General Motors in partnership with Rohm and Hass, the
company that invented Plexiglas. The revolutionary material essentially
replaced the sheet of metal out of which the car’s body was usually made
of, thus offering a clear view of the inner workings of the vehicle. To
add to its striking appearance, the metallic structure featured a copper
wash, the hardware was chrome-plated and the tires were white, instead
of the usual black. The Ghost Car’s total cost was estimated at $25,000
at the time.
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“A transparent motorcar, the first ever constructed in the united
states, is the most striking of the Fisher Body Division exhibits at the
GM highways and horizons building at the New York world’s fair,” a 1939
General Motors press release read. “Created to show the rigid interior
bracing and other features complete with windows that can be raised and
lowered, doors that can be opened and closed. The only material lacking
being the insulation normally applied to the inner surface working with
a new material, a synthetic crystal-clear plastic.”
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In 1940, a second Pontiac Ghost Car was built for the Golden Gate
Exposition Display, an together with the original one toured different
Pontiac dealerships in the United States. The eye-catching vehicles were
also featured in Pontiac promotional material as well as in automotive
magazines.
The 1939 Ghost Car was loaned to the Smithsonian during World War 2, and
was auctioned for $308,000 in 2011. |