Approved
in December 1966, project XP-840 continued the "substantial look" of
earlier Cadillac concept cars. Note the "outrigger" fenders.
"Xperimental Projects": XP-840
The
fastback coupe had no back window or inside rearview mirror. Instead,
in a prediction of a real future feature, a video camera supplied the
view aft.
One of the first scale models of 1960's Cadillac concept cars was a
close-coupled coupe with approved 1963 lower-body styling but a much
longer front – truly enormous, in fact – plus a dramatically tapered
fastback roof of the sort favored by corporate design chief William L.
Mitchell. Gradually, work proceeded through scale- and full-size clay
models designed from the ground up.
Jordan emphasized that it was all mostly for fun: "It was a two-passenger Cad with 16 cylinders all right, but it was done just to make a statement about the heritage of Cadillac and where we were going with the image.
Jordan emphasized that it was all mostly for fun: "It was a two-passenger Cad with 16 cylinders all right, but it was done just to make a statement about the heritage of Cadillac and where we were going with the image.
Cadillac ХР-840 Eldorado Fastback, 1965
"We built several scale models and one full-size clay. The concept of
all was invariably the same: a long-hooded car to contain the long
engine. These designs were exaggerated, almost cartoon-like, but
exciting to work on. This was one of our pet advanced projects at the
time."
Still, somebody must have taken this work seriously, for by December 1965 the new multi-cylinder Cadillac had won "official" status as one of GM’s famous "Xperimental Projects": XP-840. This progressed to a full-size mockup for a two-seat V-16 fastback coupe.
Still, somebody must have taken this work seriously, for by December 1965 the new multi-cylinder Cadillac had won "official" status as one of GM’s famous "Xperimental Projects": XP-840. This progressed to a full-size mockup for a two-seat V-16 fastback coupe.
This 1965 full-scale mockup for a Cadillac V16 two-seater was photographed in the GM Design viewing court.
This photo shows the 1965 mockup’s lack of a rear window.
Typically shown in the GM Design viewing court, it continued the
"substantial" look of earlier proposals, most notably in profile, plus a
domed "prow" hood and matching vee’d windshield.
But there were many startling firsts here – like no back window or inside rear view mirror; instead, a narrow slit was cut into the roof as a view port for a rear-facing TV camera.
As photos testify, designers really cut loose on this two-passenger fastback, giving it a massive undercut nose, semi-separate front fenders, a huge wrapped windshield sans A-pillars, double-notched beltline, a back panel deeply inset between bold "outrigger" rear fender lines, and the ribbed "cuffs" spilling out and down from the hood to recall the outside exhaust pipes of Classic days.
Nameplates read "Eldorado," but probably just for convenience. Cadillac had no need for a new V-12 or V-16, and all the design work toward such a car was done mainly in speculative fun.
But there were many startling firsts here – like no back window or inside rear view mirror; instead, a narrow slit was cut into the roof as a view port for a rear-facing TV camera.
As photos testify, designers really cut loose on this two-passenger fastback, giving it a massive undercut nose, semi-separate front fenders, a huge wrapped windshield sans A-pillars, double-notched beltline, a back panel deeply inset between bold "outrigger" rear fender lines, and the ribbed "cuffs" spilling out and down from the hood to recall the outside exhaust pipes of Classic days.
Nameplates read "Eldorado," but probably just for convenience. Cadillac had no need for a new V-12 or V-16, and all the design work toward such a car was done mainly in speculative fun.
Source: General Motors Corp.
