Page 27 - 2019 Auto Show Guide

By J.W. Southwick
Director of Marketing
& Social Media
MAADA

Truck Museum in Auburn, Indiana, and
was donated by Joe Bortz of Chicago.
When donated, the Futurliner was in
disrepair. A group of volunteers took on
its restoration in 1999, and seven years
later, the work was completed.

When you see the Futurliner up close,
you can’t help but be amazed. Its
size and Art Deco styling make you
appreciate the heart and soul that went
into the design and development of
these vehicles. At 33 feet long, 11 feet
The centerpiece of this year’s special To facilitate the exhibition of the various
tall, and eight feet wide, it’s not easy
attractions, GM Futurliner #10 is an technological advances on the tour,
to navigate today’s cluttered roadways
amazing piece of American automotive the Futurliner was fitted with 16-foot
from the center-seat cockpit. Its 12-ton
history. An idea conceived as part of display doors on either side, providing a
mass is muscled around by a military-
General Motors Parade of Progress, glimpse of the particular advancement
grade 302-cubic inch GM straight-six,
which began touring the United States carried by each vehicle. Microwaves,
which runs on gasoline.
in 1936, there were twelve of this series televisions, computers, jet engines and
of Futurliner built. The first consisted of more were displayed as spectators
To say that the Futurliner is special
eight vehicles built around streamlined looked on in amazement. Futurliner #10
is an understatement, indeed. Only
vans, which were accompanied by GM’s displayed “Three-Dimensional Sound”
nine survive, and just a few years ago,
newest cars on the tour. The second and “Opportunity for Youth.” Ironically,
one sold at the famed Barrett-Jackson
series of Futurliners were purpose-built the demise of the Parade of Progress
Auction for $4 million. In 2015, Futurliner
to carry animated exhibits. GM’s Harley tour was at least partially attributed to
#10 became only the sixth vehicle to
Earl styled the rolling showcases, which people staying home and watching
be inducted into the National Historic
are truly a sight to behold. This particular television, rather than venturing out to
Vehicle Association Register. It’s easy to
example was built in 1953 and toured see live exhibits.
see why. This beauty takes you back in
as part of the Parade until 1956, when it
time. It inspires the imagination, which,
was ultimately ended. When not on tour, Futurliner #10 is
after all, was its intended purpose.
housed at the National Automotive and
37 ANNUAL ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW 23
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