A Buick Century Custom coupe paced the 1975 Indianapolis 500 race in May, but visitors to the 67th Chicago Auto Show got to see it first. More premiere showings in Chicago that year include the AMC Pacer, the Triumph TR7, and the Mercedes-Benz 450 SE. US-made convertibles were on the way out in the mid-Seventies, and Chicagoans prepared to bid farewell. A displayed Cadillac Eldorado was one of just five domestically-built ragtops on the market for 1975, all from General Motors.
Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley (in dark suit) and Illinois Secretary of State Michael J. Howlett are both holding scissors to cut the ceremonial ribbon, which officially opened the 67th annual Chicago Auto Show to the public. On the far right, with ribbon in hand, is CATA director and auto-show chairman David Ostrow. In between the Mayor and Howlett is CATA president Sidney Markovitz. Second from the left is show manager Ross E. Kelsey.
Located on the upper level of McCormick Place East, was a special stage set up for the Illinois State Lottery. On the far left, was CATA director and auto-show chairman David Ostrow and a lottery representative with clipboard. On the far right stood CATA president Sidney Markovitz and auto show manager Ross E. Kelsey.
Inside the Oldsmobile exhibit was a special display that featured bucket seats from the 1975 models. The seating display was not meant for people to use, but that didn't stop these four from taking a break from walking the show.
Several people (backs to camera) have gathered in front of the Sports Panel display inside of the Lincoln-Mercury exhibit. Sports celebrities onstage are: sportscaster Howie Roberts standing on the left, and seated (left to right) Al Kaline, Byron Nelson and Gordie Howe.
The big attraction--in more ways than one--inside the Chevrolet truck exhibit was the Titan/90 truck with its driver's door open. A portable staircase had been set up next to the truck, which allowed people to view the inside of the cab area.
In the foreground at the AMC exhibit on the main floor is a side view of a Gremlin 2-door sedan. On the left is a Pacer, with chrome roof rack. Several other Pacers fill the background space.
Within a roped-off section of the Buick exhibit with black/white checkerboard flooring, was the Century Custom 2-door coupe, which would be the pace car at the '74 Indy 500. A limited-edition Indy replica package was available to the public, including red, white and blue decals, Hurst Performance T-top removable roof panels, and a 350 cubic inch V-8 engine. Note the "Free Spirit" and "Official Pace Car" lettering. A total of 1,800 pace car replicas were built.
Looking north down the main aisle on the upper level of McCormick Place East , features the Chevrolet's exhibit on the right with various models lined up behind the bow-tie edged carpeting. Across the aisle was the Ford exhibit, with several Granada in the image. Both exhibits were the first viewed when entering the show from the main floor entrance.
Wide, deep view of the Cadillac exhibit features a Fleetwood Brougham in the foreground. On the raised platform is a profile of an Eldorado convertible. High ceilings, large windowed walls and colorful hanging decorations added to the festive atmosphere.
In the foreground at the Pontiac exhibit is a front view of a compact Ventura SJ. Another Ventura 2-door sedan is on the right, and a Firebird coupe is on the left. On the raised platform, seen from the rear, is a Ventura SJ 2-door sedan.
Bright and colorful view of the Ford exhibit features two Granada models in the foreground, with a large Ford sign between the cars. Several other Granadas fill the background. Granada was a brand-new model that year, offered with 2-and-4 doors in base or Ghia trim.
A 3/4-rear view of the '74 Thunderbird Copper Luxury Group edition is in the foreground of the Ford exhibit. On the rightside of the display is a 3/4 front view of the Silver Luxury Group edition. On the far left is a side view of a Torino 2-door coupe.
In the foreground of the Lincoln-Mercury exhibit is a Lincoln Continental Mark IV coupe. Note the tiny porthole windows at the rear. A rear view of another Mark IV is on the left. A Continental Mark IV (side view ) also sits on the raised platform.
In the foreground of this colorful scene within the Lincoln-Mercury exhibit is a front view of a Mercury Cougar XR-7 coupe. At left is a side view of another Cougar XR-7. Mid-photo, on the raised platform, is a Bobcat Villager station wagon, with woodgrain vinyl bodyside appliqués. Related to Ford's Pinto, the subcompact Bobcat was a new model for 1975, available as a hatchback sedan or Villager wagon.
In the foreground of the colorful Dodge exhibit is a side view of a Royal Monaco 2-door hardtop. Sitting on the raised circular platform, under the lit-up Dodge signs, is another Royal Monaco 2-door. On the far left is a Royal Monaco 4-door hardtop. Dodge's full-size Monaco series came in base, Royal, or top-of-the-line Royal Brougham trim.
An Avanti II is ready to draw attention at the lower-level exhibit for the Avanti company, which continued to produce updated versions of the 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti. The mid-1970s Avantis used General Motors powertrains.
British Leyland displayed the 1925 MG "Old Number One," gold medal-winning race car at the 1975 Chicago Auto Show. The car was on its 50th Anniversary Tour of the United States. On the right is a side view of a 1975 MGB sports car.
In a close-up view inside the Jaguar area of the British Leyland exhibit, is the V-12 powered E-Type sports/racing car. The number on the car is 44. Several XJ6L sedans can be seen in the background.
Inside the colorful Datsun exhibit on the main floor, is a 3/4 rear view of a 260Z sports car (about to be replaced by the new 280Z) with its hood and hatchback lid opened. A light blue 260Z is partially obscured by the first car's hood. The orange car, mid-photo, left, is the rear of a 610 2-door hardtop, with a glimpse of a 710 station wagon above the 610.
Honda created an artificial outdoor scene for its exhibit on the lower level. Gray-colored roads with white markings wind around the rendered trees, hills and grass. Several actual Honda Civic CVCCs are positioned on the roadway. Sitting on a freestanding floor display is a CVCC 4-cylinder overhead-camshaft engine. CVCC stood for Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion, which meant the engine had an auxiliary combustion chamber and ran with a leaner mixture than usual.
Positioned inside the artificial outdoor scenery exhibit for the Honda Civic CVCC models, is a 3/4 front view of a CVCC sedan. Because of its new engine configuration, the Civic CVCC is promoted as "A Clean Age Car."
Bright and colorful AMC/Jeep exhibit on the lower level features an exposed chassis with 'Quadra-Trac' that points out the full-time four-wheel drive components. Directly behind it is an obscured side view of a Wagoneer with woodgrain vinyl bodyside appliqué.
A mildly modified Camaro featured as a special show car during the 1975 Chicago Auto Show was billed as "Berlinetta," predicting a new model name coming to the Camaro lineup. The first production Camaro Berlinetta was released for the 1979 model year and replaced the Type-LT package.