In its second year at McCormick Place, the Chicago Auto Show continued to grow, with exhibits on two levels of the facility. Among the new models introduced that year are the Chevy II, Ford Fairlane and Mercury Meteor. For mid-1962, Chevrolet turned the rear-engined Corvair into a sporty machine, courtesy of a turbocharged engine, tachometer, four-speed gearbox, tauter suspension and Monza Spyder designation. Among the imports seen that year were Alfa-Romeo, Austin, Commer, Daimler, Fiat-Abarth, Osca, Porsche, Opel and Simca. On the right is a rare view of the Mercury Palomar concept vehicle at the '62 show in Chicago.
Nine CATA executives pose for the photographer during a planning session for the auto show. Seated are (left to right): president Fred G. Litsinger; CATA director and auto-show chairman Don C. Mullery; and CATA executive vice-president and auto-show manager Edward L. Cleary. Standing are (left to right): CATA director Richard V. Lynch; CATA's NADA director Maxwell S. Evans; CATA director Frank H. Yarnall; CATA secretary Joseph Levy; general counsel Seymour M. Lewis; and vice-president Michael Schwartz. All are members of the 1962 Executive Show Committee, except for Seymour Lewis.
Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley is at the speaker's podium during a banquet. Four other men are visible, including CATA president Fred G. Litsinger (at far left) and auto-show manager Edward L. Cleary (second from right).
Cars are parked in lots along the lakefront, within walking distance of McCormick Place, in this wide shot toward the south. People can be seen walking toward or from the Chicago Auto Show.
Large crowd is lined up inside the lobby of McCormick Place, waiting to buy tickets and enter the 1962 Chicago Auto Show.
People are walking down two stairways, flanking the "Fountain and Theme Sculpture," to reach displays on the lower level of the 1962 Chicago Auto Show. A large, stylized sign notes that this is the 54th Chicago show.
Two male dancers cavort onstage with a group of female dancers during the "Motorevue of 1962." A huge mockup of a TV set serves as the backdrop for the "Motorvision" performance, which featured skits based on popular TV shows.
Performers wear western garb for this skit during the "Motorevue of 1962." A huge mockup of a TV set serves as the backdrop for the "Motorvision" performance, which featured skits based on popular TV shows. This one represented "Wagon Train," starring Ford products. Fairlane was a new mid-size model, available in base or upscale 500 trim, with an optional 221- or 260-cubic inch V-8 engine.
Wide shot of the auto-show floor includes the Dodge passenger car exhibit space at left, Chevrolet at right, and many others beyond.
In its second year at the new McCormick Place, the Chicago Auto Show continued to dazzle show goers with it bright open design and wide aisles. This rare color view catches a corner of the Cadillac display with a 1902 Runabout on the turntable. Behind a pair of 1962 Cadillacs on the floor is a special Cadillac Eldorado convertible with its attendant spokeswomen. Nearby are Buick, Oldsmobile and Rambler displays.
The new intermediate-size Ford Fairlane is in the foreground of a portion of the Ford exhibit space at the 1962 Chicago Auto Show. In the center is the concept Ford Cougar 406 with dramatic "gullwing" doors, which debuted at the 1962 Chicago show. The Cougar 406 featured top-hinged, electrically operated gull-wing doors, and came equipped with the new 405 horsepower 406 CID V-8. Farther beyond is the futuristic Gyron concept vehicle.
With its body sliced in half down the middle, exposing the entire interior, a Volkswagen Beetle appeared to leap into the air, which captivated visitors during the 1962 auto show. The Beetle taillights were larger that year; a conventional fuel gauge replaced the old reserve lever and the engine was increased to 40 horsepower.
Scene outside the Rambler exhibit, featured an American convertible at left, and an Ambassador four-door sedan on the right, particularly blocked by a freestanding engine display Posed on a raised platform in the center of this shot, is the Rambler Centaur concept vehicle--which does not look remarkably different from regular production models. Glimpses of other Ramblers can be seen to the rear.
A scene outside of the Oldsmobile display space, has the rear view of a Starfire convertible in the center of the photo, and the rear of the Ninety-Eight hardtop coupe on the far left side. A side view of the new mid-size Jetfire hardtop coupe is on a raised platform at the right.
A Polara 500 convertible dominates this scene at the Dodge exhibit area during the 1962 Chicago show. A Polara 500 two-door hardtop can be seen at left, and a four-door hardtop is at right.
Distinctive International truck exhibit resembled a picnic spot along a lake, to illustrate the off-rode recreational possibilities for its Scout model--available with either two- or four-wheel drive. Two additional Scouts are posed on checkerboard floor panels.
A two-toned Valiant sedan is featured in the left foreground of the Plymouth exhibit during the 1962 Chicago show. A Valiant hardtop is on a raised platform toward the right. To the rear is Volkswagen's display area, with several sedans (Beetles) on an elevated platform.
Modest-size group of auto-show visitors have gathered around a platform holding the new Studebaker GT (Gran Turismo) Hawk, as a female presenter in an evening gown speaks into a hand microphone. Designed mainly by Brooks Stevens, the GT Hawk was another evolution of the coupe design that came to life in 1953, originally developed by the Raymond Loewy team.
Scene at the Jaguar display space, which features a pair of E-Type (XK-E) sports cars: a closed coupe at left, and a roadster at right. Jaguar sedans can be seen toward the rear, including a Mark X (left) and smaller Mk II. Plymouth's exhibit space is farther back. Jaguar's Mark X was new this year, replacing the Mark IX. The E-Type Jaguars had debuted in 1961.
A small roped-off section of the special imported-car display area in the McCormick Place lobby holds a variety of makes. At left is a British Ford Consul Capri hardtop. At right is a DKW AU1000 station wagon, with a three-cylinder, two-stroke engine.
A kimono-clad woman posed beside the Mercedes-Benz SL sports car. Unlike some European-built automobiles, Mercedes-Benz models were sold all over the world.
A good-size crowd has gathered around a slot-car racetrack in the Meister Brausers area of the 1962 auto show. Visitors were invited to take a number to participate in the miniature racing competition.
Auto-show manager Edward L. Cleary (fourth from right) and another man pose with six winners of the annual Traffic Safety Slogan Contest, held in Chicago-area high schools. The winners have their hands outstretched, ready to receive their prizes: U.S. Savings Bonds. Three of the winners attend public high schools, and three attend parochial high schools. Photo taken at the booth for the Chicago Street Traffic Commission, a regular exhibitor at the Chicago Auto Show.
Scene at the exhibit space for Cushman motor scooters, featured several commercial models, including two with fringed surrey roofs. The vehicles were sold and serviced by Chicagoland Cushman Sales, with locations in Chicago Heights and Niles. A Cushman engine was display of a tripod stand.
The Chevy Monza SS topless two-seat prototype was based on the Corvair rear-engine platform with a shortened 88-inch wheelbase. Styling reflected Corvette influence, and predicted rear design of 1965 Corvair.
Released in 1961, and on display during the 1962 auto show, the TurboFlight concept was Virgil Exner's last show car for Chrysler. As the name implies the car was powered by a third generation turbine engine. The entire roof canopy would lift up/down in sync with the doors opening/closing, and the headlights were retractable. A unique deceleration flap was mounted horizontally between the soaring tailfins. This was another collaborate effort between Ghia of Italy and Chrysler’s engineers.
Chrysler Corp. experimented with a gas turbine power plant in a Dodge medium duty truck, called it Turbo Power Giant, and presented it at the 1962 Chicago show. The turbine engine had 80 percent less moving parts than a piston engine, and weighed 400 pounds less. Styling changes included a custom perforated steel grille design.
Crowds attending the 1962 Chicago show were awestruck by the experimental Ford Gyron, which debuted in 1961. The car was design by Alex Tremulis and featured a futuristic delta shape body and one-piece plastic canopy. Theoretically the Gyron balanced and road on two-wheels via a gyroscope for stabilization. Inside the two-seat cockpit, a unique steering dial combined with the provision for individual accelerator and brake pads on each foot bar, made it possible to operate the car from either seat. Both time of arrival and speed would be shown on a viewing screen in front of the passenger compartment. The Gyron was 44.85 inches high, 85 inches wide and had a wheelbase of 107 inches.
Mercury's Palomar two-door hardtop station wagon featured a roof with an opening rear section. When open, the rear seat rose and a small windshield popped up allowing the passengers to see over the roof. The concept car was named in honor of Mt. Palomar Observatory in California.
A Chrysler Corp. representative was photographed while speaking to the gathered crowd about Plymouth's Turbine engine, which is seen under the hood of the prototype vehicle. Two examples were built based on the 1962 Plymouth Fury two-door hardtop and nicknamed the "Turbo Furys." Each was fitted with a third generation of the experimental turbine engine, which produced 200 horsepower.
Pontiac shortened the 112-inch wheelbase of a compact Tempest coupe by 15-inches, shaved the roof completely off, added some custom touches, and created the Monte Carlo show car. Notable features added to the car were the cut-down windshield and side windows, along with dual aerodynamic fairings behind the bucket seats. Powering the rear wheels was a 194.5 cubic inch slant four-cylinder engine. Double racing stripes flowed between the traditional Pontiac split grille design, continued over the hood, across the trunk lid and into the concave rear panel. Though Pontiac never used the name again, Chevrolet did have great success with the Monte Carlo moniker on production models.