Introduced at the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair, the Concours show car clearly predicted a number of Chevrolet styling trends for the next few years.
Among car enthusiasts, the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair is remembered mainly for one noteworthy event: On April 17, 1964 the Ford Mustang was introduced there, selling more than one million units in the first 18 months and creating a new market segment. But actually, Detroit’s Big Three automakers all had major exhibits there—it could fairly be called the car show of the decade. Chrysler’s display included a building styled like an enormous V8 engine, while General Motors erected a giant pavilion that included a rotating display of fabulous, forward-looking dream cars, including this one: the 1965 Chevrolet Concours.
According to the Chevrolet press department at the fair, the Concours was “an aerodynamically styled four-place convertible with a forward-thrusting grille and teardrop rear deck. Painted and trimmed in a brilliant Electric Blue, it has concealed headlamps and convertible top with exhausts ducted through the rear fenders.” (Edited for spelling and copy style.) Though it wasn’t mentioned, it appears the show car was constructed on a ’64 Chevrolet full-sized chassis, from what we can see.
The press release goes on: “Besides displaying advanced styling concepts, the car is also a showcase for Chevrolet’s new high-performance 396 cubic-inch V8 engine.” And sure enough, on the front fender there’s a crossed-flags 396 Turbo Jet emblem. Other details include delicate split bumperettes and a bright-metal lower valance. These features are a bit far out for consumer use, but the general theme certainly tracks that of the production full-size Chevrolets for 1967. The ’68 Caprice offered optional hidden headlamps, too, though in a different configuration than shown here.
At the rear there’s a dramatically chiseled deck and rear bumper treatment—razor sharp, in fact. Now there’s a development that was unlikely to manifest on any production line, then or now. However, the tail lamps integrated into the bumper absolutely did appear on the showroom ’68 Chevy, and in ’69 and ’70 as well. On the production Impala and Caprice there were three lamps on each side, according to the Chevrolet tradition established in 1958 and just as shown here.
Along with the lead image at the top of this page, Chevrolet also photographed the Concours with the lady model stepped away, the better to show off its sleek lines and proportions. While it was never mentioned, apparently, the custom Electric Blue paint was probably a high-metallic GM Firemist color. Along with its World’s Fair appearance, the Concours may have also been displayed at other national cars shows in 1965. What happened to the Concours after that, we wouldn’t know, but a number of its nifty styling features could be found on full-size Chevrolets for the rest of the decade.
The other two doors must have been stored in the trunk, because they don’t appear on the body. this is a sharp car, but I prefer the actual 4 door convertible concept that was based on the ’65/’66 Caprice; it looked like it could have been a production model.
That’s another mistake. It should read four-place.
Memories of the 1964 New York World’s Fair, which, unfortunately was the most disappointing vacation for 14-year-old me, due to having parents who were completely allergic to standing in line for any reason (except maybe the rest rooms, and they’d gripe about that). Dad, being a Chevrolet dealer, got passes for two days that got us into the GM pavilion an hour before it opened, so we’d be walking in while the long, long, long line started to form. It was fun seeing all the exhibits twice.
Unfortunately, the parent’s aversion to standing in line meant that GM was the only desirable exhibit I got to see. Ford? Even if dad was willing to go thru it, mom would have raised holy hell (we had nothing to do with “that” brand, one nightI even got sent from the dinner table for innocently mentioning that I thought the ’65 Mustang was neat looking). Spent a lot of time at the Chrysler exhibit since there were no lines to get on a ride. Everything else was all the small, totally disinteresting (to a 14 year old motorhead, anyway) international pavilions. Plus, the folks were completely allergic to the concept of souvenirs.
Remember seeing the Concours. In retrospect, I didn’t realize I was seeing the source of my favorite of dad’s company cars, a ’65 Impala SS hardtop in silver blue.
Living in NY, I got to the Fair about 20 times, and my favorite ride was at GM. It was a track of moving seats passing dioramas of the future, living under the sea, in space, etc. I’d ride, go back on line, ride again. There were several concepts, including the so-called Firebird IV, just a studio glider, which appeared again at Disney World as a future Buick. Never saw this Chevy. Wish they’d do the Fair again but the world is all online now.
Really weird proportions. The back third looks like it’s from a different car.
Hidden headlamps were offered in 1967? If so, I’ve never seen one.
Sorry Dan, that should have read ’68 Caprice. Since corrected.
I remember them on ’68 Caprices. Maybe about 15% of the cars. Maybe ’67’s. Dad had left the dealership with the incoming ’66’s so I wasn’t following the cars too closely at that time.
You’re right; they weren’t available in 1967. Caprice did offer optional hideaway headlights in 1968, but Impala did not.
Anyone else see the front end profile of the future Buick Riviera in the Concours? That’s the first thing I noticed.
Mac – your articles are a welcome and appreciated part of each day. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with all of us auto enthusiasts. Every one is nugget !
Probably just me…But I like it.