It is mostly remembered because of its horrible design, which was the result of an attempt to make the most secure car in the world.
Its rather abominable design was the result of an attempt at creating the most safe car in the world. Although the principle of “form follows function” is theoretically valid in this instance, many people believe that the Aurora is the most ugly car ever built.
Alfred A. Juliano, a Catholic priest, was responsible for the creation of what he called the “ultimate safety car.” But it was a disaster because, aside from its horrendous appearance and mechanical problems, the idea was a total failure. Legend has it that the car failed 15 times during its 100-mile journey from Connecticut to New York, where it was officially presented. This was due to the fact that the Buick engine hadn’t been started for more than four years.
The Aurora was built from a 1953 Buick frame. It featured a fiberglass body, plywood structure and shatterproof resin windshield that looked like a bubble. Juliano thought that the windscreen was so aerodynamic, raindrops would just blow away.
There were many safety-related components such as side-impact bars and a built-in roll cage. The spare wheel was placed under the car’s front to absorb impact.
The front was filled with foam in order to reduce the impact of an injury with pedestrians (think 50s pedestrian airbag). It had a collapsible steering column and seats that could pivot 180 degrees. This would allow it to be repositioned in the event of a collision. The dashboard control activated hydraulic jacks to lift the car from the ground.
Although the plan was to produce the Aurora, it didn’t happen due to obvious reasons. Alfred Juliano spent $30,000 on the idea for the Aurora, and worked on it for four years. However, he eventually went bankrupt when the project failed.
This hypothetical production model was imagined with a $12,000 starting price, making it one of the most expensive cars in those days. The Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was $13,000, making it the most expensive car of the time.
It was rotting for decades, but Andy Saunders, an auto enthusiast, saved it. He bought the Aurora in 2005 and completely restored it.
Although the 1957 Aurora is often regarded as the first experimental safety vehicle, it was a complete failure. However, the person who created it had good intentions.