1934 Chrysler Airflow
The first mass-produced car to be designed with serious consideration of aerodynamics. Also the first to use all-steel unit body construction (no wood) and to place the engine over the front axle (rather than fully behind it). Test driver Harry Hartz set 72 speed and endurance records at Daytona Beach, then averaged 18.1 mpg on an L.A. to N.Y.C. endurance run.

1937 Cord 812 Sportsman Convertible
Penned by Gordon Buehrig, the Cord remains a classic of Deco/Streamline design. Built in Indiana by the Auburn / Cord / Duesenberg group, the 812 model featured a supercharged Lycoming V8 under its coffin-nose hood. To achieve a low ride height, a pioneering front wheel drive design was also part of the specification, feeding through a trick semi-automatic transmission.

1932-34 Auburn Boattail Speedster
Another deco classic from designer Gordon Beuhrig (Cord, Duesenberg). Equipped with a V12 by Lycoming, the Speedster came with a factory guarantee of a 100 mph top speed.

1953 Kaiser Dragon
Perhaps the ultimate tiki ride, the Dragon featured custom-textured Bambu vinyl on both the roof and the interior, simulating the look of woven bamboo or straw. The upholstery, door inserts and headliner sported Laguna cloth with its mod, interlocking curvi-rectangular pattern. Tune in some exotica on the radio, and you're in business. Relevant note: company head, Henry Kaiser, was an early patron of tiki maestro, Martin Denny (until they fell out and Arthur Lyman became Kaiser's court musician).

1963 Studebaker Avanti
From the fading Studebaker company came this very mod GT. Industrial design legend, Raymond Loewy and his team penned the styling in seclusion. Note the Coke bottle fender contours (the Coke bottle was another of Loewy's designs), asymmetrical detailing, excellent rear styling and grille-free front. A super-charged V8 was an option.

1967 Dodge Dart GT
Blunt 60s bantam-weight muscle. 273 V8 with Carter 4-bbl. carb, TorqueFlite automatic with Sure Grip diff, Rallye suspension package, Mag wheel covers and transistorized Music Master push-button radio.

1971-74 Citroën SM
Citroën's spacy GT for the futuristic 70's featured a 4-cam V6 supplied by Maserati (also used in the Maserati Merak). Like many Citroëns, elaborate hydraulics controlled the suspension, steering and brakes -- the brake system included an anti-lockup function a couple of decades before the concept would reach mass acceptance.