Studebaker Astral from the Studebaker National Museum collection
Charles Taylor built a one wheel gyro stabilized vehicle and it worked. It was functional, not flashy, but the guy actually built it and the videos show how it evolved over the years. Just after writing that article the other day I came across a short piece in a 1958 issue of Science and Mechanics that mentioned the Studebaker Astral. It, too, had one central wheel with gyro stabilization but also atomic power for propulsion and hovering and all sorts of other features. Of course, the Astral was never built and this concept is all that exists. Isn't it interesting how much better Taylor's real vehicle carrying him down the road looks than the futuristic concept that never actually went anywhere?
Photo from Petersen Museum display, car from Studebaker National Museum collection.
Link: Petersen Museum
Link: Studebaker Museum
Related: Taylor One Wheel Vehicle
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{ 6 comments… add yours below ... }
Never went anywhere?? It looks alot like the sedan the Jetsons romped about in.
Skizick, you know, I think you’re right!
For some reason I see the car Homer Simpson designed.
The Astral is currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in an exhibit titled: What Were They thinking? The Misfits of Motordom.” The exhibit is filled with all kinds of failed attempts at new automotive ideas, including a 3,200 lb motorcycle from 1913 that features a flathead V-8 and seating for 3! The exhibit runs through September 20, 2009.
Looks like it’d make an interesting boat.
It looks silly now, but for ‘58 it probably seemed reasonable that this is what cars would look like in the future. The real shame of it all is that Studebaker’s designers and engineers didn’t get together with Charles Taylor before the doors closed in South Bend to at least explore his vehicle further and possibly even bring it to market.
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