The GM Design team recently shared a series of studio images of the 1962 XP-777 Concept on its Instagram page, giving us a new perspective on this old Larry Shinoda-designed styling exercise.
Also known as the Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT, the 1962 XP-777 Concept was essentially a low-slung, dramatically styled take on the comparably pedestrian Corvair. Unlike the production Corvair, however, the Turbo-Air 6 engine was mounted ahead of the rear wheels and turned 180 degrees, making it a true mid-engine car. The XP-777’s streamlined exterior appearance was the direct result of a wind tunnel testing program that GM was conducting at the time, with this focus on aerodynamics eventually influencing several of GM’s vehicles throughout the 1960s.
Some of the styling cues seen on the XP-777 also inspired the design of later iterations of the production Corvair, like the taillights for example.
These newly shared photos show the car in the studio at the GM Design Center in Michigan. Another photo shows the two designers of the car, Shinoda and Tony Lapine, posing with the full-size styling rendering they developed before the actual physical car was built. The dimensions of the rendering are quite a bit different than the production model, showing a more upright greenhouse and a hunched-over engine cover. Also of note: the driver pictured behind the wheel in the rendering is none other than GM design director Bill Mitchell. We’re left wondering what happened to this cardboard rendering – which would be a seriously cool collectible for any Corvair fan.
These days, the XP-777 Concept resides in the private GM Heritage Center, where it lives alongside other mid-engine concepts like the Corvair Monza SS, 1967 Astro and 1968 Astro II.
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Comments
Don’t they have anything new to show off?
Only when GM gets guys the likes of Bill Mitchell, and Dutov back will they become great again. They lost their way and are still in the maze. What they show they never build because people may actually buy one. Like most manufactures they are updating 30 year old designs and going with those because THEY SOLD ! The new vetted is not bad from the front, after thought from the rear. Look at Chip Fooses redesign of the C8, 100 percent better.
The late Larry Shinoda is probably more-well-known for being the designer another vehicle—the most iconic car ever built and sold by GM—the 1963 spilt-window Corvette, the design of which caused the C2 to become what is generally considered by Corvette fans to be the best iteration of that carline.
Mr. Shinoda, you designed what I and many other car enthusiasts consider to be the most beautiful car ever built. It’s timeless shape looking today as modern as it did 58 years ago.
Lawrence Kiyoshi (Larry) Shinoda (March 25, 1930 – November 13, 1997).
R.I.P.
Whenever I see this car, I think “Opel GT”!!!
I’ve been to the Heritage Center for a private dinner event and it’s an amazing place. It’s not open to the public, which is a shame. It would be cool if GM made the celebration of its design legacy more accessible.
Would like to see an official update each week on recall of gm. Cars I lease an Encoregx and heard it had a recall for brake sensors I never received an official notice from generous motors
Maybe your car wasn’t one of the ones impacted by the recall.
If it was, trust me, you would know, I’ve been getting cards from GM to replace my switchblade key on my 2012 Camaro for 7 years…..
Go do some gardening and find something else imaginary to complain about…..
Watched a video the other night about the GMC motor home that was produced about 5 years until 1978 … the person who posted it was getting the point across that GM literally paved the way to building the products that people wanted to buy, they owned if I remember right about 37% of the motor home market with just two models (short about 30 foot an long about 40 foot long) at the time, and made money, and they did it with off the rack parts by an large. The GM bean counters killed a profitable market for them, same as they’ve done with other great vehicles like the Chevy Astro, Chevy LUV, the humble station wagons in the Malibu/Impala/Caprice families, and most recently the Chevy Cruz. And what’s we get in return (yawn) just another SUV, and some of the SUV’s to name two are dern short on the utility part … the Chevy Trax an Buick Encore aren’t recommended to tow anything. I’m not against the SUV market, no … But GM, the Buick Encore I’d actually buy needs to be able to tow just 1,200 pounds and do it nicely without any worries or mechanical issues, and I won’t spend $30K to do it. GM, to be blunt … we need either a humble station wagon like is sold in Europe, or the Buick encore than can tow 1,200 pounds … and it needs to sell with just a few options for around $19K to $21K. Ford it seems has listened and their new small truck will have the capabilities as the Bronco Sport, so it will tow 1,500 pounds, and will sell in base trim for around $20K, maybe less. To end this thought, GM you gotta get your act together and listen to your customers, and you bean counters at both Ford an GM … you build what we want an can afford, and we will buy it.
The motorhomes were cancelled because the cars they were based on, the large FWD E-body Eldorado and Toronado were downsized and there wasn’t enough demand to keep the drivetrain and engine in production, and they weren’t as profitable as GM through they would be even at the $30,000 plus they were selling at by 1978/
The Astro was made until it was an outdated relic from 1985 that no one wanted to buy.
The LUV was replaced by the S10 in 1983, you might remember that, it was made for decades and sold millions of small trucks.
The humble station wagons-NO ONE WANTS STATION WAGONS EXCEPT IMAGINARY INTERNET WANKERS THAT CONSTANTLY WHINE FOR THEM….same for small pick ups. If people really wanted station wagons, people would buy them, people want suv’s.