The hit of 1961 New York motor show, the Gyron was an outrageous stab at what we would be driving in 2000: a space-ship bodied oddity with just two wheels, balanced by gyroscopes.
The concept car was lost in a fire, but the studio model -- created by Ford design legends – survives. It’s rare for scale design models to get into public hands, and this one had been in the hands of former Ford design studio head Joe Oros until earlier this year, but is about the cross the auction block.
There is already collector buzz about the fibreglass model, not least because it was a collaboration by Blue Oval creative giants Alex Tremulis, Bill Dayton and Elwood Engel. It was also the final Ford project for Syd Mead – who went on to design the vehicles for blockbusters like Tron, Blade Runner, Star Trek and Aliens.
Under their creative pens, a vision emerged of a car that would travel at 320kmh, with tyres deflating and narrowing at the higher end of the speedo. When stationary, the Gyron was supposed to balance on its two wheels with the help of a gyroscope. But the technology cost – about $115,000, or closer to $850,000 in today’s terms – meant it was never fitted.
The show car instead was given two outrigger ‘trainer wheels’ that unfolded to keep it level when stopped. The concept also fell far short of the planned speeds, with its electric motors powered the speedo needle no further than 10kmh.
Sets of pedals in both footwells meant driving duties could be swapped between the two seats, with both able to steer and accelerate using a centre-mounted dial, while on-board radar scoped the route.
And despite its technology having remained on the drawing board, the Gyron’s design influenced Ford styling for years to come. The concept model will taking bids on December 13 in the US, going under the hammer of specialist modern design auction house Wright’s.
