Concept Car Of The Day: 1964 Ford Aurora - AllCarIndex

Concept Car Of The Day: 1964 Ford Aurora

Jul 23, 2024

The Aurora, a stunning "luxury lounge" station wagon with two unique design features, was designed and fabricated in the Ford Motor Company Design Center. The experimental unit represented a potential shift towards a new era in luxurious interior appointments and innovative devices to produce and control light.

One of the main goals of the Aurora was to explore new comfort features to enhance the enjoyment of long trips. Ford designers meticulously planned the interior to include a television set, three separate AM/FM radios, thermoelectric combinations oven-refrigerator units, a sound recorder, and a built-in beverage cooler and cabinet. The compartmentalized interior was divided into a "command post" driver's area, a central lounge with a swivel seat and a curved sofa, and a children's area that could be isolated by a power-operated glass partition.

This dream station wagon incorporated electro-luminescent safety lighting, a row of 12 one-inch sealed-beam headlamps, a power-adjustable polarizing sunroof, and both indirect and direct interior lighting features. With just the touch of a button, the roof section over the forward seats could transition from opaque to transparent. The sun visors were equipped with internal louvers in tinted plastic shields to adjust the translucence based on the visor angle.

The Aurora also boasted full-length ornamentation in the shape of spears on each side, which could be illuminated using electro-luminescence for safety running lights. The tips of the spears were outfitted with turn indicator lights to supplement the standard turn signals on the front and rear of the vehicle.

One of the standout features of the Aurora was its "clamshell rear-entry system," which included a counter-balanced tailgate that folded down and a liftgate that slid over the roof to allow easier access to the rear-facing children's seat. The tailgate even transformed into a carpeted step to further assist with entry and exit.

Inside the vehicle, drivers were met with an advanced instrument panel that included a turnpike lane indicator system, a position indicator map that adjusted automatically to the car's location, a conduct-speed control device, and a large speedometer with individually illuminated numerals.

With its futuristic design and innovative features, the Aurora was truly ahead of its time. Though it may have been a concept car, it paved the way for new ideas in the automotive industry.