Thanks to an article in 'Car and Driver' April 2002, I have an excellent reference to the original concept. Perhaps Laurance should have checked photos of the original before writing this article. Apparently there are some deficiencies in Laurance Yap's memory.
I too was thrilled with the Solstice concept, especially after Ford announced it was canning the gorgeous Jaguar F-type roadster. I was infact so thrilled with the Solstice ( hoping to get a glimpse of the concept at the 03,04,05 International car shows in Calgary) that I thought I would have to sell my 61 BUG EYE and buy one. Guess I'll see the production version at the 06 show. Now that I've had time to rethink, I'm keeping the finest Bug Eye in western Canada.
I really admired the concept's moulded in tailights reminiscent of the 58 corvette which, like the headlights, carried the fender-to-body creaselines down through the signal lights and into the roll pans. I can understand that front and rear impact bumpers may have required frenched rather than flush mounted signal lights and that those styling details had to be sacrificed on the REAL car.
I love the moulded headrests reminiscent of the 57 Duntov Corvette.
I really don't care that they moved the Pontiac CHEVron up from between the grilles to accomodate the mounting of a front license plate for those required by law to wear one.
As owner and chief mechanic (read 'head banger') of a 61 Austin Healey Sprite Mk I, with a onepiece hood/bonnet; I certainly understand that the ever so clean lines of the Solstice front end required surgery to provide a traditional opening hood.
The really slick rearview mirror which was moulded into the center of the windshield frame obviously only works without a roof; so of course it vanished.
But why oh why did they have to scrap the dual vertically stacked exhaust tips in the center of the rear honeycomb grille with matching body color roll pan? You shouldn't have missed that one Laurance!
As for Grant Yoxon, He and I are probably waiting for the 55 NOMAD (2-door station wagon) version of the Solstice [same platform]. Room for long legs, kids and groceries in his case, and a bicycle in mine.
