Nissan Z Concept

The Nissan Z Concept from 2001, shown here at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, was described in the Nissan brochure as “…revolutionary, inside and out. Innovative, yet with a nod to heritage.” Scheduled for release in the summer of 2002, it would become the 2003 Nissan 350Z, built in Oppama, Japan, with few changes, featuring a 3.5-leter aluminum-alloy 24-valve dual overhead cam V6 engine with molybdenum-coated pistons and a close-ratio six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Other significant standard features included a 160-watt 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and 17-inch 7-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels (as opposed to the 20-inch 7-spoke flangeless rims on the coppertone-painted Z concept). In addition to the base model, the 350Z would be available in Enthusiast, Touring, Performance, and Track models as well.

2001 Aston Martin DB7 V12 Vantage

The Aston Martin DB7 V12 Vantage, shown here at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, was introduced in 2000, with a 420-horsepower 6.0-liter dual overhead cam V12 replacing the previous 335-horsepower 35-liter supercharged inline six-cylinder engine of the standard DB7, increasing top speed from 163 miles per hour to 185 miles per hour. With the manual transmission, the Vantage could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.0 seconds; an automatic transmission was also available. The DB7 V12 Vantage was available as a coupe or a convertible, with features including Brembo brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels, and 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes.

Volvo Safety Concept Car

The Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC), shown here at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, featured innovative passive safety ideas. The driver could see through the A-posts, which used see-through Plexiglass in a steel box construction, and the B-posts curved inwards at the top for unobstructed field of vision to the offset rear. Embedded in the door mirrors and rear bumper were sensors that alerted the driver of approaching traffic in the “blind spot” to the offset rear.

Hyundai HCD6 Roadster Concept

The Hyundai HCD6 Roadster Concept, shown here at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, was a prototype for a mid-engine two-seat roadster powered by a high-performance version of the 2.7-liter dual overhead cam V6 engine from the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, with a six-speed manual transmission. The HCD6 featured an aggressive nose, floating carbon fiber bumpers, projector beam lights that turn with the front wheels, and a deeply sculpted side air intake flowing into the rear wheel wells.

2002 Ford Thunderbird

The new Ford Thunderbird, shown here at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, was introduced in 2001 as a 2002 model, with retro styling like roof portholes, front-fender grilles and afterburner taillights to recall the Thunderbirds of the 1950s and 1960s. Based on the same chassis as the Lincoln LS and the Jaguar S-Type, the new Thunderbird was powered by a 3.9-liter, 32-valve aluminum dual overhead cam V8 engine that produced 252 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 261 foot-pounds of torque at 4,300 rpm. With a 5-speed automotive transmission with overdrive, it could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 6.8 seconds. The Thunderbird was offered with five exterior colors: Whisper White, Midnight Black, Thunderbird Blue, Torch Red and Inspiration Yellow. Standard features include a power retractable convertible top, power 4-wheel ventilated 4-channel anti-lock disc brakes, dual exhaust, 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, dual power mirrors, power windows, and door locks, Securilock™ passive anti-theft system, perimeter alarm, remote keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and speed control and power tilt/telescoping steering column, speed-sensitive variable intermittent wipers, automatic headlights with on/off delay, illuminated entry with theater dimming feature, NUDO® leather-trimmed seats with recliners, power 6-way driver’s seat & 2-way passenger seat, front and side-impact airbags for driver and passenger, air conditioning with dual automatic temperature control, AM/FM stereo with in-dash 6-disc CD changer, clock and Audiophile sound system, and brushed aluminum interior highlights. Available options include supplemental parking lamps, 17-inch chrome wheels, all-speed traction control, interior color accent packages, and a removable hardtop with a heated glass rear window, storage cart, and cover.

1940 Packard One-Ten Club Coupe

Responding to the Great Depression, luxury automaker Packard introduced a line of cars powered by six-cylinder engines in 1937, alongside its eight-cylinder powered standard One-Twenty line. Initially called simply the Packard Six, the smaller Packard line was renamed Packard One-Ten in 1940. The Packard One-Ten series had a 122-inch wheelbase, as opposed to the Packard One-Twenty line's 127-inch wheelbase, and was powered by a 245-cubic-inch six-cylinder version of Packard's L-head in-line engine that was rated at 100-horsepower, not much less than the One-Twenty's 120-horsepower 282-cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine. Packard built 62,300 One-Tens and 28,138 One-Twenties for 1940. The One-Ten line was expanded in 1941, but in 1942 the Packard One-Ten went back to being the Packard Six before World War II halted civilian Packard production. This 1940 Packard One-Ten Club Coupe was photographed in the Days in the Park parade in Rainier, Oregon, on July 8, 2000.

1975 Pontiac Ventura

Pontiac first introduced the Ventura name in 1960 as a higher-priced full-size model, and throughout the 1960s it alternated between being a model and being a trim level for the Pontiac Catalina. In 1971, Pontiac applied the Ventura name to its new rebadged version of the compact Chevrolet Nova. The Nova and its copies (the Pontiac Ventura, the Oldsmobile Omega, and the Buick Skylark & Apollo) were restyled for 1975, as illustrated by this example.

The Pontiac Ventura was marketed as a more luxurious sports car than the Chevrolet Nova. (Note that this example has an aftermarket steering wheel, but the rest of the interior is largely stock.)

The Pontiac Ventura was offered as a two-door coupe, a two-door hatchback, or a 4-door sedan. This is the hatchback version. By 1975, the Ventura was not available with a Pontiac engine, instead being offered with a variety of Chevrolet and Buick engines, with the Buick 350-cubic-inch V8 being the most powerful option.

The Ventura name would not last much longer. In the middle of 1977, Pontiac introduced another version of the Nova, the more luxurious Phoenix, which replaced the Ventura entirely for 1978.