Futurliner at OKC Auto Show gives nostalgic glimpse of how engineers once envisioned the future
Futurliners were designed to be heralds of the future.
Styled in the 1940s, the twelve General Motors Futurliners were designed to promote future cars and technologies. They crisscrossed the United States as a part of the Parade of Progress and made people everywhere dream of the future.
The GM Parade of Progress and its crew of about 60 young men carried futuristic and inspirational exhibits to millions of people across North America from 1936 to 1956. The parade of Futurliners, accompanied by GM’s newest cars, would pull into small towns like the circus.
At 33 feet long, 8 feet wide, more than 11 feet tall, and weighing more than 12 tons, each Futurliner featured heavily stylized art deco bodywork, including a deep red side, white roof paint and large articulated chrome side panels. A military-grade 302 ci GMC gasoline engine and an automatic transmission added to the appeal Whitewall tires and a prominent, high-mounted, centrally located driver command position behind a panoramic windshield made it a sight to see.
Of the dozen Futurliners manufactured, nine still exist. Futurliner #10 is coming to Oklahoma City during the 101st OKC Auto Show, March 9-11 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park.
Before the Futurliner takes its place in the Auto Show it will tour the Oklahoma City streets as it did in 1955. It will depart Oklahoma State Fair Park at noon on March 8 and return to the Bennett Event Center at State Fair Park at 1 p.m. it will then take its position in the Auto Show in preparation for a busy weekend.
“The era when the Futurliners were traveling the country was an exciting time for autos and was reflective of a time when technology was rapidly changing the world,” said Peter Hodges, president of the Metropolitan Auto Dealers Association. “We could not be more pleased to have the Futurliner #10 as part of the Oklahoma City Auto Show and we know this is something that is going to excite a lot of people of all ages.”
Seeing a Futurliner is a rare opportunity. The Futurliner has visited Oklahoma City only twice before. Once on the campus of Oklahoma City University as part of the Parade of Progress in 1941, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and again in 1955.
“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to show off the Futurliner #10 to everyone who attends the Oklahoma City Auto Show,” said David Yarde, executive director of the National Automotive and Truck Museum (NATM). “This is an ideal event for us to provide the public with a glimpse of how we viewed the future many decades ago.”
Unfortunately, with the increased popularity of television and other growing technologies, the Parade of Progress eventually retired and the Futurliners became a memory of the past. However, efforts were made to restore some of these remaining pieces of Americana. The Futurliner #10 was eventually donated to the NATM. The remaining Futurliners are privately owned or sit unrestored.
However, during the Auto Show, visitors can get up close to #10. This particular 1953 Futurliner has some very unique features including 16-foot display doors on either side, which were the perfect platform for static exhibits and live demonstrations of emerging technology of the future. The Futurliner #10 was also nominated for inclusion in the National Historic Vehicle Register.
“This will be such an exciting combination of our past, present and future,” said Laine Diffee, Metropolitan Auto Dealers Association chairman. “Visitors to the Oklahoma City Auto Show will have an opportunity to actually sit inside this amazing part of our American history, and we are proud to be able to have the Futurliner #10 as part of our annual event.”
Bringing unique pieces such as the Futurliner to Oklahoma is what makes the show special.
“Each year, we like to bring audiences the best of the past, present and future. Vehicles such as the Futureliner were made to inspire people, and perhaps the OKC Auto Show can help inspire auto enthusiasts to dream or build the car of the future,” Hodges said.
The Oklahoma City Auto Show is one of the largest consumer shows in Oklahoma and will feature a variety of entertaining activities for adults and kids.
In addition to the Futurliner #10, the show will showcase a unique collection of 1950s era cars; a display with four one-hundred-year-old vintage cars; the opportunity to test drive 24 cars and trucks from Fiat, Chrysler Automobiles, Toyota and Chevrolet; exotic cars; a “Coffee and Cars” event; a VIP preview event prior to the show’s opening; and many 2018 new cars and trucks from 25 automobile brands. Kids of all ages are invited to play the 18-Hole Mini-Golf Course Experience with proceeds benefitting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Summer Youth Camp.
This year’s Oklahoma City Auto Show will once again take place in the state-of-the-art Bennett Event Center at State Fair Park. Attendees will have the experience of enjoying the show under one roof with immediate access to all the exhibits and events.
To buy tickets, visit www.okcautoshow.org. Discounts are available for tickets purchased online until March 7. Buy one get one free coupons are available at your neighborhood 7-Eleven stores and Solid Rock Basketball.
FUTURELINER SCHEDULE
The Futurliner #10 will travel a route on Thursday, March 8, at noon, that starts at State Fair Park, works its way through the city and then back to the OKC Auto Show location. The route itinerary is as follows:
12:00 p.m. – Futurliner #10 to leave the site of the OKC Auto Show at the Bennett Event Center at State Fair Park, traveling north on N. May Avenue
12:05 p.m. – Futurliner to reach 23rd Street and begin traveling east
12:08 p.m. – Futurliner to pass Oklahoma City University, the final location of the previous route of the Futurliner over five decades ago
12:15 p.m. – Still traveling east on NW 23rd Street, the Futurliner to reach the intersection at Broadway Avenue
12:18 p.m. – Futurliner to stop at the Oklahoma History Center for a photo
12:21 p.m. – Futurliner to begin traveling south on Lincoln Boulevard to the State Capitol
12:25 p.m. – Futurliner to take a stop at the State Capitol for a photo
12:28 p.m. – Futurliner to north to 23rd Street and back to Broadway Avenue
12:30 p.m. – Futurliner to travel south on Broadway Avenue and through Automobile Alley to Park Avenue
12:33 p.m. – Traveling west on Park Avenue, the Futurliner will travel to City Hall for another photo
12:35 p.m. – Futurliner will arrive for photo at Municipal Building
12:38 p.m. – Futurliner to travel south on Walker to Sheridan Avenue
12:40 p.m. – Futurliner to drive east on Sheridan to Ron Norick Blvd/Robinson Avenue
12:42 p.m. – Traveling north on Norick/Robinson, the Futurliner will stop at the downtown studio of The Oklahoman for photos and a video interview
12:49 p.m. – Futurliner will travel north on Norick/Robinson to Robert S. Kerr Avenue
12:51 p.m. – Traveling west on Robert S Kerr, the Futurliner will turn north on Walker
12:54 p.m. – Futurliner will arrive at roundabout at NW 10th Street, and circle around to go west
12:57 p.m. – Futurliner to arrive at NW Classen and begin traveling north
1:04 p.m. – Futurliner to reach NW Expressway and begin traveling west
1:08 p.m. – Futurliner to arrive at N. May Avenue and begin traveling south
1:22 p.m. – Futurliner returns to the Oklahoma City Auto Show in the Bennett Event Center at State Fair Park