Check Out These 9 ‘Wildly Bizarre’ Car Dashboard Designs
- Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:38pm by
Liz Klimas
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Futuristic concept designs for hovercraft cars and amphibian vehicles are nothing new to the Blaze audience, but we haven’t yet focused on dashboard designs. Amazingly, those pulled together by the blog Dark Roasted Blend as the third in its series “Exploring Art and Architecture with Avi Abrams” are not all futuristic concept designs, but some are actual dashes dating back decades while others debuted more recently.
Abrams writes some of these dashes are works of art while others are so “wildly bizarre” they could actually pose as a distraction to drivers:
Today we are going to look at some amazing car dashboards – if, like me, you enjoy being surrounded by beautiful design wherever possible, then car dashboards (considering how much time we spend in our cars) certainly need to be comfortable and nice to look at. However, some dashboards transcend being simply “visually pleasant” and enter the rarified category of “objects of desire” usually reserved only for masterpieces of modern art.
Original “dashboards” were simply wooden barriers to protect the horse carriage driver from splashes (or “dashes”) of dirt thrown up by the horse’s hooves. Much has changed since…Modern dashboards are significantly more than just arrangements of knobs and dials around a steering wheel. At their best, new concept dashboards feel more like clouds of futuristic worlds, enveloping the driver and lifting him into a stratosphere of high style and impeccable taste.
Here are nine we picked out from Abrams’ list:
Concept dashboard design by Renault DeSir. (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
2007 Mazda Ryuga (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
Toyota FT-HS (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
Concept design of the Citroen Revolte. (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
2009 Cadillac ELR. (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
2007 Nissan Roundbox. (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
2001 Spyker C8 (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
1956 Buick Centurion. (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
Maserati Boomerang (Photo via Dark Roasted Blend)
Check out the rest of Abrams’ post with more dashboard images, also appearing in Yale University’s Out of Order magazine, here.
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Comments (47)
DeavonReye
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:50amI really don’t care much for the dashes on those “futuristic concept cars”. What I really like, when it comes to design, are those late 50‘s and early to mid 60’s cars. Pick a maker, most of them had some pretty amazing looking dashes.
Report Post »RedManBlueState
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:38amI say bring back tail fins and hood ornaments!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:53amRound & Oval designs are used to attract the Male Mind (T&A)!
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 12:13pmAgreed. . . . . . to both comments.
Report Post »palmettopalflorida
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:22amI‘d rather be behind the wheel of my ’99 F-150, with its bench seat.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:54amWhich is why you have a ‘99 Ford F-150. Personally, I quite like my ‘07 Toyota Tacoma 5spd 4X4 with a bench seat. :-) But that does not mean I cannot appreciate the rest of the world. Such as ‘99 Fords…
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:17amMy wife gets to use rentals because of her job. She usually gets to pick anything on the National lots. We typically stick with Chrysler 200 convertible, they are just comfortable little cars, but when one is not available she will choose whatever catches her eye. We have had several mustang converts, Chrysler 300s, challengers and chargers, Beamers…really everything…
But the most comfortable and elegant in my opinion is the 2012 Buick Lacrosse. It is NOT the car that would catch my eye, but it is the perfect cruiser. Anyway, google pics of the 2012 dash. It is very similar to the Caddy ELR above, in fact, it is probably evolved from that prototype. It is very real-world and everything is just right on it. It is a beautiful car.
I bet the 2012 Caddy is even better but they have not been a choice thus far…
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:16amThe colors are wild.
Now all interior colors are BLAND and BORING with few options offered.
Report Post »epicwinofgod
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:15amEye Candy! It’s like life is becoming a video game. Something going that far into aesthetic value for something made for transportation seems pointless. Especially when we have to disguise the ugliness of oil consumption and its ever rising price. I guess they think if they make our cars prettier we’ll pay $8.00 a gallon to drive them. Maybe I’m just too negative, but where do you draw the line when you’re spending money in engineering? Efficiency or Design? If you’re not solving the problem, you’re the problem itself.
Report Post »80mesh
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:07amFiat was the first car with a defroster/heated rear window … so when you had to push start it your hands wouldnt freeze to the glass
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 1:19pmHow true! I had a 1954 Fiat Topolino convertible station wagon many years ago and with my foot on the floor, it would get up to 40 MPH in a couple of miles on a flat straight away. Can you spell CRAP?
Report Post »Joyzee
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 8:51amLike skintags on your eyelid‘s Marxist’s must be Removed………….#:0(
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 8:04amWay cool
American creativity and ingenuity a.k.a EXCEPTIONALISM– the very thing socialism and communism will not tolerate…Just ask the Marxist in the White House!
Report Post »prkw
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 7:52amThe Buick Centurion design was actually a design for safety. Back then steering wheels in automobiles were stiff shafts from the front to the driver’s wheel. Getting into a head-on accident many time would result in impalement of the driver.
That design removed the shaft directly in front of the driver.
Automobiles now have an angled collapsible shaft for safety.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 5:04amThe Spyker (Dutch) IS a real car. I believe the rest here are all concept cars.
Report Post »R.A. Bullseye
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 1:24amI’ll take the 1956 Buick Centurion any day.
Report Post »dangmc
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 12:01amAfter reading the rest of the article, I see what looks to be a stock 1956 Chrysler Imperial, but all the rest seem to be concept cars.
Report Post »repairman469858
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:22pmyou can sure tell the newer designs are by collage educated people ? nothing practical just wimzie and do what feels good not whats right ! horriable !!!!!
Report Post »Solidspine
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:07pmTo repairman469858 there is no A in Horrible
Report Post »Bryan B
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 3:27am@Solidspine
repairman469858 can have an A, in horriable if he want one.
Please don’t be anal to others….
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:19pmTime to take away Liz Klimas password and access to the Blaze.
Report Post »Whats next ?
5 signs that he is cheating on you?
COFemale
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:54pmDon’t like the content, you can leave, we won’t cry or miss you. Didn‘t your mother ever teach you if you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all. That is why I am holding my tongue with you.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:03pmNah My mother after seeing me told me to go to Hollywood and get into porn.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 9:28amAh, to Hollywierd with you then, you’d fit right in with the losers there! Buy chin straps for the things that bounce off your chin mate…
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 12:08pmMr.Fitnah
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:03pm
Nah My mother after seeing me told me to go to Hollywood and get into porn.
Report Post »——————————————————————-
I did hear there is a shortage in she-males…
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:16pmI wonder where the lighters and ashtrays are.
Report Post »Jackie Rogers, Jr.
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:11pmWhere’s the ashtray?
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:22pmLooks ike I owe you a beer, Jackie.
Report Post »MLeo
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:07pmI don’t remember what kind of car it was, but I remember one that worked by having punch buttons for everything. I sat in one of those once and remember punching the buttons. That design didn’t catch on, did it.
In all the photos above, I only say that the orange has GOT to go. Except the 1st photo. I am wondering where you’re supposed to sit.
Report Post »mixplix
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:21pmThat was a Plymouth push button drive on the left hand side of the steering wheel, early fifties.
Report Post »TennBill
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:27pmWe used to callthose “Juke Box Drives”. Chrysler had them on all their models, Ford had it on the Edsel and Packard even had one that was on the side where the shift lever would be.
Report Post »POET
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:50pm1934 Cord Push Botton Automatic
Report Post »dangmc
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:48pmIf memory serves me well Chrysler products had push button drive from 1956-1959 or 1960 on the left side of the dash, Edsel had them in the center of the steering wheel.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 5:01amSeveral Chrysler products, (Chrysler, Imperial, DeSoto, Dodge & Plymouth) had a push button transmission feature from 1957, to the very early 1960′s. In addition, Rambler offered it in a few models in the very late 50‘s and early 60’s..
Report Post »headbtweenlegs
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:05pmWe have obama commercial …Glen has sold out!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:26pmno, YOUR WEB PROVIDER has a obama commercial
when will people learn to use their browser correctly ?????
Report Post »headbtweenlegs
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:04pmWho gives a rat ass
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:41pmDear Headbetween,
Report Post »I do.
Sincerely,
A Rat.
Todd P
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:53pmI’ll take the 2007 Mazda Ryuga!
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:40pmReally cool.
Report Post »BIgWheeler
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:19pmI like the toyota the best
Report Post »randy
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:56pmMy Vote is for the Caddy!
Report Post »That Maserati Boomerang is gosh awful UGLY!
dexter morgan
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:41pmIt looks more like an airplane (that was recovered off a desert island.)
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:48pmI kind of like the buick, real classic.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:44pmMost don’t look like they were going for comfort … except the Caddy and perhaps the Buick .. some look downright uncomfortable to drive …
Report Post »