A Flint Inventor Created The Coolest Car To Never Exist

The car that everyone has been talking about (or laughing at) lately is the Tesla Cybertruck. It is one of the most unique and visually iconic vehicles to be released in years, and though it has its negatives, you have to begrudgingly respect them for releasing such a bold...thing.

But what if I told you there was an even cooler car that was designed here in Michigan that could split in half on command and had a working prototype but was never released for mass production? Such a thing existed and there is video footage.

1990 Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show started back in 1901 and has been known for featuring incredible concept cars since its inception, ranging from cars that could climb the side of a cliff to a Hummer that can turn into a pop-up camper. Back in 1990, one van was featured that was not just a van but also could turn into a car.

Chrysler's Plymouth Voyager III was showcased in 1990 and to this day is still one of the show's most iconic vehicles. The car was hailed as the "future of minivans" that was able to provide seating for big families, able to seat 8 people when attached, and had an additional four-cylinder engine in the back for extra horsepower.

However, when the owner was looking for a more compact and fuel-efficient option, it could detach and become a 3 seater, four-cylinder engine. So at any time, the vehicle could switch between 3 to 8 people in one car. It was designed by Automotive Hall of Fame inductee Tom Gale, a Flint native and MSU graduate who went on to create iconic cars like the Dodge Viper and the Plymouth Prowler. 

The concept was never adopted due to not being logical. Then Chrysler President Bob Lutz claimed the car was meant to provide a smaller option for van owners in downtown areas that avoided "wasting fuel and clogging up space." The idea never took off, and the car disappeared.

This car design isn't very realistic, but the concept is very cool, and I see the thought process for the car. If my mom's minivan could swap into something smaller when it was just her scooting around I'm sure she'd be all over that.