Concept Car of the Week: Chrysler Atlantic (1995)

The Atlantic concept was arguably one of the first retro-remakes, starting a trend soon followed by cars like the Alfa Romeo Nuvola and the Renault Fiftie.

The story began at the 1994 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Chrysler president Bob Lutz and Chrysler design chief Tom Gale served together as judges.

Presented on the lawn around the clubhouse were a variety of old and new concept cars, contrasting with the classic cars to be judged. Eager to impress, they decided that the following year, Chrysler would present a car that would put all the other concepts 'back on their trailers'.

Lutz sketched his ideas on a napkin which he gave to Gale. Gale then went on to brief his team but did not show the doodles as he wanted to get his designers' visions and didn't want to give them any preconceptions.

They were told to look at the artful aesthetic of French cars from the thirties, like Bugatti, Talbot-Lago, Delahaye and Delage, and to come up with a radical design blending retro style with modern details and proportions.

The winning design by Bob Hubbach took most of its inspiration from the 1938 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic from which it also borrowed the name.

Sitting on 21-inch wheels at the front and 22-inch wheels at the back, the car is very low, with the cabin pushed far back to create a powerful and dramatic stance. The rounded pontoon fenders make it look retro and opulent.

At the tip of the bonnet, the grille is probably the least attractive detail. Next to it, the lamps are round and slightly cross-eyed like a Morgan Aero 8. A subtle spine running along the center of the car splitting the rear window adds a nod to the famous dorsal seam of the Bugatti.

Another reference to French classics is the teardrop shape of the side window and the rounded doors which hints at the 1938 Talbot-Lago coupé.

Under the bonnet was a 325bhp 4.0-liter straight-eight made of two Chrysler Neon four-cylinder blocks fused together. This was coupled to Chrysler's four-speed Autostick automated manual transmission.

It might not be quite as good as other retro concepts - like the BMW Mille Miglia for example - but regardless of the badge and the terrible engine choice, the Atlantic was a tribute to an era when cars where conceived on an artist's canvas, and built by gifted craftsmen, an era when car design was regarded as art.

It brought back the idea that luxury coupés could be inspiring, not merely by a hefty price tag but by the shear passion that went into their creation. When was last time you got truly amazed by a luxury coupé?

First seen Detroit Auto Show 1995
Designer Bob Hubbach
Length 5,067mm
Width 1,925mm
Height 1,310mm
Engine Straight-eight, 4.0-liter
Power 325bhp

Your author, Flavien Dachet, is a UK-based, French-born car designer. You may know him as the purveyor of KarzNshit, a photo blog that if it isn't already in your bookmarks, it certainly should be.

By Flavien Dachet