1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special concept car at Fuelfed Coffee and Classics in Winnetka, Illinois.

This Corvette based concept car features its own unique version of the 268 cu in (4.4 liter) inline-8 cylinder engine that powered Pontiacs between 1933 and the year of this car, 1954.  It was bored out, had higher compression than the normal inline-8, and was given a few other modifications which helped it produce 230 horsepower (172 kW), but some people would argue that it actually produced 300 horsepower (220 kW).  Only two of them were built, this and a green one, and both are still in excellent condition.  The owner of this one goes as far as saying that it’s so original that even 90 percent of the air in its tires is the same air from 1954.

With its round glass canopy and jet-age details such as tailfins, turbine-like spare tire cover and wheels, and liberal use of chrome, it’s the epitome of 1950s American concept car design.  The difference between this and other American concept cars of the era is that there is some apparent European influence in the fenders, headlights, and wide open mouth.  The result is very striking in person.  But while the Bonneville concept car was a small sports car-like vehicle based on the first generation Corvette, the production Bonneville was a convertible version of the extremely large Pontiac Star Chief that was essentially a Chevy Bel Air with a Pontiac badge.  All Bonnevilles since then were large American style land yachts.